Page 108 of Summer with the Single Dad

“I do. And I’m fine with it. This is more than just about kombucha, or money. Twenty-three different bottles of kombucha, please.”

“Twenty-two,” Emme piped up. “I’ve already tried the Watermelon Mint. So we don’t need that one.”

Justine swept her hand over the back of Emme’s head with affection, smiling down at her before looking back up at Siobhan. “Twenty-two of your kombuchas, please.”

They took their booch booty—which ended up going into a big box that Justine had to carry—down to Humpback Beach. After Justine spent all that money on the drinks, Emme wasn’t interested in the shops. They drove past the dock where the tame seal lived, but similar to the petting farm, it, too, was packed with people, so they just kept driving, ending up on the most beautiful beach.

And even though the beach was busy, it was big enough that it didn’t feel congested.

They grabbed sunscreen and a blanket out of the back of Justine’s SUV, along with the box of kombucha bottles, and carried them down to the sand together.

“Which one should we try first?” Justine asked, so grateful that they’d both packed hats with them. She tipped up the brim of her big floppy sun hat so she could read the label of the bottle in Emme’s hand.

“This one,” Emme said. “Mango and spirulina. That’s algae, right?”

“That’s right. How’d you know that?”

“Uncle Dom puts it in our smoothies. If we have too much of it, it turns our poop blue though.”

Justine snorted a laugh. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen blue poop before. And I’m a doctor.”

Emme cracked the bottle and poured them each a half glass into the recyclable plastic cups Siobhan sent them off with.

“To risks. Even small ones,” Justine said, clinking her cup against Emme’s.

She brought the cup to her mouth and took a sip, but her gaze was focused on the curious little girl who remained so cautious it was almost painful as she slowly brought the cup to her mouth. But when her eyes lit up like fireworks and she nodded fervently, Justine relaxed.

“Algae is good,” Emme said, finishing her cup.

Chuckling, Justine closed her eyes and picked another bottle from the box at random. She read the label. “Hmmm. Jasmine and lychee.”

“What’s lychee?”

“A really sweet, delicious Asian fruit. I grew up eating a lot of them. And jasmine is a fragrant flower that is also used to flavor Asian rice and tea, and other things. Remember how your dad made jasmine rice with the stir fry?

Emme nodded.

“I think I’m going to like this one.” She cracked the lid and poured them each a couple of ounces. They clinked cups again and sipped.

“That one is good too,” Emme said.

“See? Not such a bad thing taking some risks.”

Emme nodded again, but then her brow furrowed. “I don’t know if I can drink twenty-two of these.”

“We’ll take them home with us and you can try them when you’d like. I’m just glad you’re trying them.”

Emme leaned against Justine’s arm and Justine wrapped an arm around her, so now the little girl leaned into her side, closer to her heart.

“Was it weird when Aya tried to convince you to marry our dad?”

“I’m not going to lie and say it was fine. It was a little awkward.”

“It would be cool though. If you and our dad got married. Or if you moved in and stayed, like Brooke stayed with Uncle Clint and Talia. Talia loves having a mom again.” She glanced up at Justine. “Do you like our dad?”

Well, that was a loaded question.

“Your dad is a very nice man. He’s been immensely kind and generous allowing me to stay in your home until the trailer was ready. Not just anyone would do something like that.”

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