Page 65 of Minted

I can’t help my smile. “But I’m not promising not to get you presents, and I think you should accept the commercial. Then, by New Years, maybe you’ll believe that plenty of good things can happen without any bad, okay?”

Both girls nod, but they both look nervous. After they’ve brushed their teeth and they’re in pajamas, I go into their room to tuck them in.

“You won’t change your mind, will you?” Nikki asks. “Like, if you got a boyfriend, and if he didn’t like us, then would you send us away?”

My half-smile’s wry. “I doubt I’ll be finding a boyfriend any time soon, but if he was so dumb that he didn’t like you, you better believe he’d be kicked to the curb right quick.”

Ricki looks like she might cry again.

“I know I haven’t known you very long,” I say. “But I love you girls already.” And now I’m crying, too. “I’m happy you want to stay with me.”

“What if our dad shows up?” Ricki asks. “Can you kick him to the curb too?”

They’re asking so many complicated questions. “I can’t speak to that,” I say. “It wouldn’t be up to me. But I think the Court is smart enough to know how to handle that kind of thing, alright?”

Ricki nods slowly. “Okay. But for Christmas, you’re letting us go over to celebrate with Bentley?”

I don’t tell them that I have no one else to celebrate with. No parents. My only friends on a cruise. My ex-husband officially told off again. “Yes, we can. I think you’ll like his dog.”

“He has a dog?” Nikki perks up. “What kind?”

“It’s black and white and it licks a lot.” I shrug.

“Maybe it’s a terrier,” Ricki says.

“Or a corgi. They come in black and white,” Nikki says.

“It’s bigger and fluffier than those,” I say. “But I’m sure he remembers—”

“Is it a border collie?” Ricki asks. “They have a lot of energy and a lot of them are great with frisbees.” Her eyes are so bright, they could practically light up the room.

“Do you girls love dogs?”

“We’ve always wanted one,” Nikki says, “but Mom was allergic.”

“Ah, well, I’ll text him and ask, alright?”

Both of them nod.

“Now, go to sleep. Maybe after school next week, we can go shopping for something for Bentley.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” Nikki says.

“It’s actually a bit of a chore,” I say. “Bentley’s hard to shop for. You two can try to help me pick something for the guy who has everything.”

They look at each other and smile, for some reason. I have no idea why.

“What?”

They both start giggling.

“Okay, off to bed.”

It takes them almost half an hour to get quiet, but finally they do, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I call Seren to tell her how our conversation went, and she’s as excited as I am.

“You know, Emerson turned us down when we wanted to adopt him.”

“I was there,” I say. “Remember?”

---