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“Yeah, I saw that.”
He’d already warned me about Liam, but deep down I knew it had more to do with the fact that Liam looked like he belonged in a thirst trap video versus him just being a jerk.
“Do you think he’d get mad if I…” I trailed off because I wasn’t sure if my question would come across as rude.
“Get them new ones?” Colson finished my thought for me.
I nodded. “Yeah. Would that piss him off? Would I be overstepping?”
My brother turned to grab his water and then faced me again, shrugging.
“I stopped caring what he thought about me spoiling them. I try to stick to foods and comforts or toys, I haven’t ever ventured into the needs category. But they need new boots. Plain and simple. If you want them to play outside in the snow, that rubber on the sides can’t be split like that.”
He was right, and it wasn’t my place to judge Liam on providing for his daughters. For all I knew they had new ones but just loved wearing their old ones around. But with me, today, I needed them to have the right gear on or else I’d worry.
“Okay, we’re going to head out, and go over to the park.” I walked toward the guest room and dipped to grab the basket full of toys. “I’m also taking this, but I’ll bring it back.”
“You better, that shit cost me a small fortune,” he yelled after me as I gathered the girls and headed outside. We traipsed back to the house under a blue sky and warm sun.
“Now what?” Maddy asked, glancing around nervously.
“Now we shop.”
Mila gasped excitedly. Seraph’s eyes got big, and Maddy nodded.
Then we were off.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Blue Skies
Patience
Fast-acting nail repair
Tinted Windows
Oversized Sleeping Shirts
Heat
Kindness
We werein some department store that sold chicken coops and troughs on the outside of the building. There were also so many barbeques and so much winter gear, I wasn’t sure where to start looking. Men and women who were fitting themselves with thick jackets and fur-lined boots took up the aisles. Camo gear dotted the middle section of the store, tents with green and orange hung from the ceiling, and there were a few dead animals mounted and stuffed on the wall.
None of this was familiar to me, but I was trying to roll with it.
Rolling meant we were tucked away in the kids snow boot aisle with all three girls sliding their feet into shoes.
“Daddy usually takes us to Wal-Mart for boots,” Maddy said, wincing as she struggled to pull up the strap of her boot.
There wasn’t a Walmart for twelve miles, and I refused to freak Liam out again by taking the girls out of town. But I didn’t want to tell Maddy that.
“If you’re struggling to put it on then I don’t think it’s the right one for you. Let’s try a different one.” I bent down and tugged a different brand and size free.
It was a deep purple color with black rubber along the bottom and white fur inside.
Her eyes widened and lips parted as she gently set it down. I knew she liked it, so I hoped it would fit comfortably.
