Page 60 of Playing It Forward

I laugh. “You had your hands full with the four of them.”

He grins. “And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

This is how it should be. This is how a dad should act. Instead of worrying I’m going to repeat my dad’s mistakes, I should use Charlie as my role model.

I glance over at Terri. She’s kind and sweet and stubborn. He obviously did a great job raising her after her mother died. It’s settled. Charlie is my new role model.

Chapter 20

Watching Nolan with children should qualify as emotional warfare.

Terri

I study the Welcome to Mermaid & Pirates Kids Day sign.

“Bring up the right side a little bit,” I holler to Jade.

Her son, Adrian, grins. “I told you your side was too low.”

“Make fun of my sign hanging skills one more time and you’ll spend the rest of the summer mowing the lawn for all of our neighbors.”

Adrian smirks. “Dad won’t let you punish me.”

Jade’s eyes widen, and her gaze darts around the area. I wave a hand. “It’s okay, Jade. We’re the only people here.”

Besides, everyone on Smuggler’s Hideaway already knows Coach Knox is Adrian’s dad, I think, but know better than to say. Jade isn’t ready for the world to know. There’s a story there. But since I refuse to share my own story – I place a hand on my stomach – I’m not asking any questions.

They climb down the ladders. While Adrian carries them away, Jade comes to stand next to me.

“Thanks for helping to organize the Mermaids & Pirates Kids Day.”

“I’m happy to help out.”

She sighs. “I don’t know how you do it. I organize one event a year, and I am losing my mind.”

I shrug. “I love it when it all comes together.”

She snorts. “Even when the bridezilla requests to change the flowers an hour before the ceremony?”

“Even when.”

“I’d throat punch a girl.”

I giggle. “Hudson frowns upon throat punching. I don’t know how you show a house to someone ten times and they still can’t make up their mind.”

Jade’s a real estate agent. She’s the agent to use on Smuggler’s Hideaway if you want the best house.

She bats her eyelashes at me. “Do you mind going over my to-do list with me?”

I laugh. “Give me the clipboard.”

She slaps it in my hands. “The pirate obstacle course is all set. As are the mermaid tale races and the treasure hunt. I saw the face painter arrive. We need to check the walk the plank game is set up.”

I frown at the next item. “This is new. Pirate Quarterback Challenge.”

“I figured since we have some sexy football players here, we might as well take advantage of them. I had to start charging moms to attend since everyone wanted to attend today all of a sudden.”

I roll my eyes. Typical. “But what about the quarterback? Is Knox helping out?”