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Johnny doesn’t want my help to dismount the horse, so I walk over to Holly and help her down.She’ll probably ride back with me, and I’ll tow her horse back by the reins.
“Let’s sit and have a snack,” I suggest as nerves over the conversation I’m about to have with these kids start to rear their ugly heads.“I have some jerky and apples.”
I spread out a blanket on the grass, and the three of us sit facing the mountains, and dig into the snacks.
“Didn’t Millie think we should put a bench here?”Johnny asks.“I think I remember something about that.”
“Yeah, but there’s no need to.We can sit on the ground like this.”
They nod and chew on their jerky, and I decide there’s no better time than the present to talk to them.
“Hey, guys, I want to talk to you about something.”
“Something bad?”Holly asks, chewing her jerky.
“No, not bad.In fact, I think it’s really good.”
“What’s up, Dad?”Johnny asks, his face set in serious lines.
Jesus, there are times that he’s so much like me it’s like a kick in the stomach.
“How are things going with you two and Erin?Do you like having her here to help us out?”
“Yeah,” Johnny says immediately, a bright smile on his face.“She’s great.She taught me a fun way of figuring out double-digit addition.She made it really easy, and now I’m doing good at math.”
“She braids my hair,” Holly adds.“And sometimes, if she has to tuck us into bed because you’re working late, she tells really good stories.She sings songs, too.”
“She does?”That surprises me.I’ve never heard Erin sing.“What kinds of songs?”
“A lot of Taylor Swift,” Johnny says.“And Nash.She likes them.”
“A couple of weeks ago, when it was really cold outside,” Holly begins, “I forgot my coat at home, and I was sad because I wouldn’t be able to go outside for recess, so she went home and got it and brought it to the school for me.”
I haven’t heard any of these stories before.I knew Erin was great with my kids, but I had no idea that it was to this extent.
I glance down at Johnny’s leg and frown.“Hey, off the subject, but how are your pants fitting you now?Just last week, we decided you’d outgrown them and needed new ones.”
“Erin took me shopping after school,” he replies, as if it’s no big deal.“I got enough to last through the summer, since I mostly wear shorts in the summer anyway.”
She took my kid shopping, paid for his clothes, and didn’t ask me to reimburse her.
“That was nice of her,” I murmur, and Johnny nods in agreement.“Well, guys, I want to be honest with you, always.I really like Erin myself.She’s smart and funny, and I think she gets along with our family really well.”
“She’s pretty, too,” Holly adds.
“She’s definitely pretty,” I agree.“I want Erin to be my girlfriend.I want her and me to be a couple.”
Holly frowns.“Do I get to call her Mommy?”
“I think that’s rushing things, sweetheart.Maybe, someday, if I were to marry Erin, that might happen.”
“Are you asking us if it’s okay if Erin is your girlfriend?”Johnny’s face is still so serious, but there’s curiosity in his eyes, too.
“That’s what I’m asking you, but I’m doing a crappy job of it.”
“That’s a swear,” Holly says.
“No, crap isn’t a swear,” Johnny replies.“You’re thinking of shit.”
