Page 21 of Love Me Gently

“I know, Cole. You’ve always let me know you appreciate me.”

A flash of sadness hit her eyes that made me cringe. Ihadappreciated her. I even liked her. A whole lot. But I knew what that statement didn’t say… I didn’tloveher, and she still felt the pain of that.

Before I could apologize, she had a wide smile on her face. “Well, I should go. There’s a signed permission slip in June’s bag for a trip with her preschool field trip to go to the grocery store later this week.”

“The grocery store?”

“They do some sort of healthy eating unit, and the kids get to pick their own healthy snacks.”

“I’m guessing Mellie’s Cakes aren’t allowed in that cart.”

She laughed. “Probably not, no.”

“What a dull field trip.”

She slapped my shoulder still laughing. “Shut up. Just make sure it gets turned in, so she doesn’t miss out.”

“On all the fun of picking out a zucchini? I would never deprive her.”

She was still laughing and opened the front door. “Have a good week, Cole. Call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

I always promised but I never did. Sometimes I wondered if that made her sad or upset. June demanded frequently to call me when they were with her, but when they were with me, the girls rarely asked for their mom. I’d like to believe it was because I was more fun, but the truth was, I nipped it in the bud from the very beginning. Maria dug that hole on her own by caving at the sight of June’s crocodile tears.

“Be safe getting home,” I called out when she was at the door to her Highlander. “Lock your doors. All the smart things.”

“You know I will,” she called back. “See you, Cole.”

I waited in the doorway until she’d started the car and pulled it back out of the driveway. Once her taillights disappeared down the street, I finally went back inside.

I hadn’t seen my girls for a week. We had catching up to do.

Mellie’s Cakeswere a bad idea. It was an hour after Ella and June’s regular bedtime when I finally had them bathed, teeth brushed, dressed in pajamas and ready for bed. And that was after I took them outside and we ran laps around the house in the dark, and I challenged them both to a push-up and jumping jack competition. Ella won the jumping jacks. We all dissolved into a fit of laughter as they watched me struggle with a single push-up while they knocked out a dozen.

A warm bath and two books later, both my girls were snuggled under my arms on both sides of me in Ella’s tiny twin bed.

“You girls ready for sleep?” I kissed the top of both their heads.

“Not really.” June snuggled in tighter and let out a loud yawn.

Sure she wasn’t, but she’d fight sleep until the last possible moment.

“I love you, Daddy,” Ella whispered and squeezed me as tight as she could with her arm over my stomach.

“I love you too. Both of you. Bunches and bunches.” I gave Ella one last kiss and nudged June with my hip. “Let’s let Ella sleep, okay?”

“Fine,” June grumbled, but her voice was thicker, her words slower.

She slipped off the bed, and I followed her, tucking Ella’s covers tight around her and then waiting until June climbed into bed to do the same.

I double-checked their window was locked, closed the blinds, and on my way out of the door, I whispered back to both, “I love you girls, sleep tight.”

“Don’t let the bedbugs bite,” June whispered back.

Only soft breaths came from Ella’s side.

No surprise there.

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