Page 90 of Time for Change

“You most certainly do. Otherwise, your teeth will rot and fall out and you’ll talk like this.” I move my lips around my teeth and try to talk. The result is exactly what I was going for, as my son gives a full belly laugh and flops down on his bed.

“You sound funny, Daddy.”

“Yep. And that’s what you’ll sound like if your teeth all fall out because you don’t brush them.”

We move to the bathroom, and I watch while he brushes his teeth. When the task is complete, we return to his bedroom, where I tuck him into bed.

“Daddy, can Stevie come over again?”

“I’m sure she can.”

“Tomorrow?” he asks with wide, hopeful eyes.

Chuckling, I run my hand over his forehead and bend down to place a kiss on the crown of his head. “We’ll see. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon, okay?”

He yawns and curls onto his side. “Okay.”

“Night, buddy,” I say as I stand up and move to the door.

“Night, Daddy. Love you.”

Hearing that never gets old. “Love you too.”

I pull the door, leaving it open just a couple inches, and make my way across the hall. Knocking softly, I turn the knob and poke my head inside. “Hey, you ready for bed?”

She’s sitting on her bed in her pajamas and nods.

“Did you brush your teeth?”

Again, she nods. “Before Christian.”

“All right, then time for bed,” I state, pulling back the covers and waiting for her to climb beneath them. When she gets all settled, I feel the questions swirling in her blue eyes. “Did you enjoy yourself this evening?”

She shrugs.

“Stevie’s nice, right?”

She hesitates but nods. “I like her.”

“Good,” I state, feeling joy sweep through me. “She likes you both too.”

“Night, sweetheart,” I say, kissing her forehead before standing up.

“Night, Dad. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I close her door, knowing that’s how she prefers it, and can’t help but smile. Tonight went exceptionally well. Everyone seemed to have a good time, despite the fact I made them eatBrussels sprouts. Stevie was friendly and charming, just as I expected her to be once she stopped being so nervous.

I hope tonight is the first of many family dinner and game nights in our future.

Stevie’s on the couch waiting when I return to the ground floor. She gives me a polite smile. “Everything okay?”

“Yep,” I state, taking a seat beside her on the couch and drawing her into my side. “Two kids down for the count.”

She snuggles into my embrace, resting her head on my chest and places her hand on my pec. “I really had a good time tonight,” she whispers.

“Me too, Sweets.”

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