Page 48 of Schooling Little Sage

“I did. One for me and one for both of my besties.”

“Such a sweet boy. Let’s head to our last stop before we get back on the road.”

Calla bagged it all up and gave me a hug. I knew I had a new friend in her and I couldn’t wait to visit again.

“Let’s grab a treat for the road.” He led me toward Angel’s Heavenly Bakery and Chocolate Shoppe.

“Yay! I love treats. Look Daddy, you can watch them bake from here.”

“You can, but if we go inside we can smell all the yummies baking.”

“There are so many fun places here. Can we come back with Dempsey and Daddy Burke sometime?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, little butterfly. Now, let’s pick a treat.”

We met the owners, Angel and Heaven Leigh, but they were super busy. We promised to come back again. Daddy got a coffee and a cinnamon roll, and I got a bottle of water and a cute tiny tart thingy with yummy fruit on top.

“Nummy, nummy, nummy.” I bit into it as soon as Daddy started the truck. “Thank you Daddy, this was just what my tummy wanted.”

“You are very welcome, my love.”

I’d brought Cora and Beary with us and now they had Draco, my dragon, as a new friend. We played and sang along with the radio until we got tired and fell asleep. When Daddy woke me up, we were parked again.

“Daddy?”

“Wakey, wakey, sleepy boy. We’re here, and if we don’t get out of the truck soon, the whole crew will descend upon us.” Right as Daddy said that, they all came out of the house. “There they are. You okay?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Remember, Daddy loves you and if you get overwhelmed at any time let me know and we’ll step away. Okay?”

“Okay.” I tucked my stuffies into my backpack and waited for Daddy to help me out. When I sat back up and peeked out the window, all of them were standing right there. Mom, Dad, Daddy’s brother, Jimbo, and Daddy’s sister, Amber, who looked just like Mom. “Um, hi?” I wasn’t sure what to say.

Daddy kissed the side of my head. “Deep breath, sweetheart. Daddy’s right here.”

“Eep!” Squished out of me when Mom gave me a huge hug. “N-nice to meet you.”

She cupped my cheeks. “You’re even more adorable in person, Sage.”

Daddy and I hugged everyone, then he grabbed our bags, and we followed them inside.

“Ooh, puppy!” I dropped to the floor, and the dog started licking my face. His happy tail wagged away. “Your tongue tickles, pup.”

“That’s JoJo,” Daddy said. “She’s a sweet old girl, aren’t ya?”

“JoJo, I love you!” She flipped over for me to scratch her belly. “Daddy, we need a pet.” Having an animal around really helped with my nerves.

“Little butterfly, follow Daddy so I can show you where we’re sleeping.”

“Can JoJo come too?”

Daddy grinned. “I think you’ve got a new bestie. She won’t leave your side now. Come on, you two.” Up the stairs and into a bedroom she followed us. He dropped our bags on the bed. “This is my childhood bedroom and literally nothing has changed.”

Unlike my old room, Daddy had band posters hanging on his walls, whereas mine had been plain. A desk sat under the window, the bed off to the side with a single nightstand beside it.

“How fun. Can JoJo sleep in here with us?”

“She can, but the old girl isn’t always great about getting up and down the stairs. This trip might’ve done her in for the day.”