Page 44 of Broken Dreams
Maybe for that time again I would trade it. Then I could’ve loved just a little deeper, let him have held her just a little longer at night instead of forcing him to put her in the crib. If I had known his days were limited, I would’ve allowed him anything he wanted.
I guess that’s why we’re not meant to know.
“Daddy, we see chickens?” Jett asks, practically bouncing.
“Go ahead, just don’t chase them.” Then under his breath he mutters, “Fat chance of that.”
The kids run toward the coop that’s just to the right of the barn.
We go after them and Jett opens the door for Elodie, who rushes in. As soon as they enter, the chickens scatter to different places, some trying to hide, others approaching them.
“He loves the chickens.” Elodie’s eyes are full of delight, and she squeals when Jett lifts one in his arms. “Easy, buddy. Don’t squeeze. Do you want to go in?” Grady warns.
I exhale through my nose, not really excited about it. “I’m not really a fan of chickens.”
He nudges me. “I’ll protect you.”
I laugh once. “Now I feel better.”
“You should. I can be deadly.”
“To chickens or others?”
“Test me and find out.”
Oh, he’s a mess. I sigh dramatically, as though this is such a big feat. “Fine, but if one chicken poops on me, we’re done.”
“Deal.”
Grady opens the door and we enter. The kids are smiling so big as Jett pets the one in his arms. “I gentle, Daddy.”
“Good.” Grady squats down and one chicken comes to him immediately. He lifts it up and runs his fingers from the top of her head to her neck where he scratches. “Do you want to see, Elodie?”
She looks wary so I give her a big smile. “It’s okay, baby.”
Elodie heads to him, stopping just a bit from Grady. “Tan I touch it?”
“Do you want to hold her like Jett?” She shakes her head so fast. Grady chuckles and it warms my heart. “I won’t let it hurt you, I promise.”
Hesitantly, she reaches her hand out, touching just the top of its head, when the chicken moves toward her, she pulls it back.
I smile and then pet the chicken. “See, it won’t hurt us. Mr. Grady is making sure we’re safe.”
She follows my lead and touches the chicken a bit more. “It’s soft!”
“It is,” I agree.
“I lub this chicken, Mommy.”
“It loves you too,” Grady tells her.
Jett calls Elodie over as he’s now holding a chicken in each arm. “I got you a chicken, Elowdie!”
She squeals and Grady sighs. “That kid already has game. He got her a chicken.”
“Well, Elodie adores him so he could’ve given her a weed and she would be happy.”
The one chicken in his arm has had enough and starts flapping her wings and squalling, forcing Jett to release her. “All right, Jett, let’s go back to the barn. The chickens have had enough torture.”
