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Jolene’s little braids fling around as she turns to look at him.
“Wade,” she scolds. “We don’t talk about Momma.”
He sniffs and wipes his nose.
“Hey, it’s okay. You can talk about whatever you want with me, okay?” I tilt his chin up and give him a smile. “And you do have a mom, Wade. She just isn’t here. That’s her choice, and it sucks.”
Jolene gasps.
“You said sucks.”
“I did. Don’t tell your dad.” I wink at her before turning back to Wade. “But you know what you do have?”
He shakes his head.
“You have a huge family that loves you dearly. You have a daddy that lives for you and plenty of uncles to keep you busy. You’ve got your grammy and gramps.”
“And you?” Wade asks.
I shouldn’t be surprised by that question. Both he and his sister have spent the entire week playing and talking with me. Kids latch onto people so easily. It makes my chest constrict, knowing that he’s already fond enough of me to consider me part of his inner circle.
“And me,” I assure him.
“You should marry our daddy,” Jolene says, laughing when I swivel my head and go bug-eyed.
“Excuse me?”
She laughs even harder when my voice cracks as I playfully squeal at her. Wade joins in, and soon, they’re both in a fit of giggles as they repeat over and over that I should marry their father.
“You should!” Wade says between laughs.
“Marry our dad! Marry our dad!” they chant.
I start tickling them, and Wendy gets sick of the commotion and groans as she lifts her heavy body off the ground. And just when I think they’re going to laugh so hard they pee themselves, I hear Rhett shouting my name from the gate.
“Where in the hell have you been?”
I bring my hand up to shield the sun from my eyes and realize he is not in as playful of a mood as we are. He’s stalking across the field like he’s ready to light one of us up.
“Playtime’s over, kiddos,” I grumble right before he walks up.
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere!” he shouts, his face red and angry. The kids immediately take shelter behind my body like I’m going to save them from the wrath of their dad.
Not a chance in hell, kids.
“Joey, Wade…go over to your Uncle Hayes. I need to have a chat with Poppy.”
“But, Dad!” Jolene whines.
“We weren’t doing anything wrong!” Wade shouts, on the verge of tears again.
Rhett sighs and composes himself.
“You know you aren’t allowed to come out here without an adult.”
I scoff. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
His eyes close like he’s summoning the patience to deal with me. He probably is. He doesn’t like me much, but I don’t really care.
