Page 7 of A Dream for Daphne

“My husband knows how to play the ladies,” Poppy said.

Reese squinted. “It’s how I got you. If you don’t need me for anything, I’ve got a few things to deal with in my office and then I’m going to the barn.”

Reese leaned down and kissed Poppy.

“Nope.” Tatum finally let out a huge burp after he’d been squirming so Poppy put the bottle back in his mouth. “I’m going into the office soon and Daphne will have the kids.”

“What are we doing today?” Holly asked.

“Well,” she said. “I was thinking we could play house when Tatum is taking his nap. And it’s such a pretty day out, we can go play outdoors and I can walk Tatum around in the stroller too.”

“I want to swing,” Holly said, throwing her arms in the air.

Poppy laughed. “She always wants to run in the yard. Which reminds me. We are having a lot of work done on the property for a few weeks. The landscaping workers are going to be around our house and yours.”

“Oh,” she said. “Do I need to get out of the way?”

“You should be good,” Poppy said. “We are having a ton of landscaping done. Not just plants and flowers but paving stones and rocks too. They are going to have it match your place and ours. Kind of connect them. I want a nice path between the two houses, the barn, and to the dock. This way you can walk up and down rather than driving over or walking on the grass.”

“That will be nice,” she said. “But I hope you aren’t doing it for me. I mean, I have no problem walking on the grass or driving.”

She’d walked over this morning. It took her a few minutes, not even five. It wasn’t that far away.

“Nonsense,” Poppy said. “It will be easier at times if they are in the stroller too. Plus it’s nice to have the houses connected. Reese is thinking of building a guest house for his family.”

She lifted her eyebrows up. “His family is moving here?”

“No,” Poppy said. “Definitely not his parents. But his father visits more now. His brother and brother’s family more than anything. Though they gave the house to Reese, they all know they can come any time they want. He wants to make it easier for them to have a place to stay separately. It’s in the works.Nothing happening now, but we are planning ahead too with the landscaping.”

“Got it,” she said. All of it was beyond her scope of reality. She put Holly down. “What do you want to do first? It looks like your brother is almost done eating.”

“Play,” Holly said.

“We can go play then,” she said.

Poppy stood up. She was in shorts and a baggy T-shirt. Though she knew Poppy wasn’t down to her pre-pregnancy size, she didn’t look as if she’d just had a child two months ago either.

“I’m going to get Tatum out of his jammies and play with him for a few minutes while I figure out what to wear and go into the office. I’ll bring him out when I’m ready.”

“No problem,” she said as Poppy walked out.

Holly grabbed her hand and yanked her to the toy room. Just one of many massive rooms in the house, but this one was off to the side and full of toys. Enough for someone to think it was a store.

She couldn’t imagine ever having things like this as a child.

She knew Poppy and her sisters hadn’t either, but Reese grew up differently.

“I want to play dolls and dress up,” Holly said.

The top of the wooden chest that she was positive that Reese made was lifted and Holly was pulling out purses and clothing, plastic shoes, and scarves.

The room was already looking as if it was looted during a major sale.

“I like this purse,” Daphne said, picking up a cloth one. She was sure it was one from Blossoms and not bought at a children’s store.

“You use that,” Holly said, nodding her head. “And I’ll use this one.”

The two of them covered themselves in accessories and were sitting at a table with pretend tea when Poppy came in.

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