Page 83 of A Dream for Daphne

“He mentioned it in passing,” Carrie said. “But you work for Poppy directly. I remember the girls as kids.”

“I’ve heard Poppy was a bit of a handful. She’s passed it onto her daughter,” she said, smiling. “I love every minute of it. Holly is so engaging and playful. Keeps me moving around and I’d rather do that any day than sit and watch.”

“You sound just like Abe,” Carrie said. “I never could keep him still. He was out helping his father in the yard before he even started school. Half the time I sent him out there to tire him out so he’d sleep better that night.”

“You wanted me out of your hair,” he said. “Admit it.”

“I’ll gladly admit it,” Carrie said, pursing her lips exaggeratedly. Oh yeah, she saw the resemblance between these too immediately. “He sure was a hyper one. Started talking early and never shut up. I can’t imagine having more than one of him. Thankfully Easton was more laid back.”

“Boring,” Abe said. “Easton was the boring one of us.”

“I don’t find him boring,” Laurel said. “I find him sweet and caring and a great partner.”

“You sound like a chick, Easton,” Abe said. “At least that is how your woman just described you.”

“Abe,” his mother said, coming over to try to swat at his arm. “Be nice. It’s like you two never stopped.”

“I grew up, Aunt Carrie,” Easton said. “Right, Laurel?”

“Not when you two are together. It’s great,” Laurel said, grinning.

“I think it’s funny to watch,” Daphne said. “Aster and I are close. Even with him having been gone for so many years, wewere still close. But we didn’t have a lot of laughter likethisin our house.”

“You’ve got it now with me,” Abe said.

“I do,” she said. “It’s nice to have and shows me what I was missing for so many years.”

“That’s very sweet,” Carrie said. “Abe, have some manners and get your girlfriend something to drink.”

She giggled at how quickly Abe jumped at that. “What can I get you to drink before my mother finds something else to boss me around with? Do you want your seltzer?”

“Yes, please,” she said.

“And she has manners,” Carrie said. “Thank God for that.”

She smiled. “I think common basic manners are a lost thing in society. I’m not sure why. When I worked at the preschool I felt as if I was the only one reminding the kids to say please and thank you. Or excuse me.”

“I’ve said that for years,” Carrie said. “I’m glad to know there are some people out there still trying to teach good values.”

“I’ll always be that way,” she said. Even though it was not her parents who taught it to her. Or even had the manners themselves.

She’d do anything to be the opposite of them.

Or not be compared in any way.

“Poppy is lucky to have you,” Abe said. “I’ve seen Holly. She doesn’t sit still at all, but you keep up with her.”

“That’s why I’m hungry at the end of the day,” she said. “I swear I’ve never burned so many calories. But she’s good with letting me spend time with Tatum too. She knows her brother needs care and I can distract her with activities when I’ve got to feed the baby. He likes to be entertained by Holly so that helps.”

“Poppy told Aster that Reese is thrilled that Holly is sleeping after dinner every night,” Laurel said. “Some days she can barely keep her eyes open to eat.”

She laughed. “She naps too. Right after lunch, she is down for about two hours and that gives me time to recharge and play with Tatum if he’s awake.”

She couldn’t be one of those people who just put a baby down and walked away. They needed to be engaged too.

But she was cleaning up lunch and then eating herself once Holly was down for her nap.

Then the little girl was up and raring to go within two hours. Almost like she had an internal alarm clock.

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