Page 205 of Dangerous Encore
I have to chuckle. It's practicallypoetic.
PureJoel.
There are footsteps outside the apartment. And voices. Bella's laugh. And anotherwoman.
Andaman.
"Oh fuck." Joel runs a hand through his hair. "I swear. It's every fucking day." He looks to me. "Just bepolite."
"Youare tellingmeto bepolite."
Henods.
"Kids do change aperson."
He flipsmeoff.
The door pushes open. Bella steps inside. She's cradling Hermoine inherarms.
Poor kid is going to be mocked endlessly forthatname.
They're two peas in a pod. They're practically in matching outfits. Bella is wearing a snug white blouse pink skirt combo. Hermoine is in a dress with asimilarhue.
Only she's got tiny pink Converse onherfeet.
She's half Mom,halfDad.
Bella isn't wearing her exhaustion the way Joel is. She looks sharp. Like she's about to headtowork.
Or like she's on her tenthEarlGrey.
"I want to play." A small child runs into the room. Not any small child.Alexandria.
And there's Kara, running in after her. "Baby girl, your cousin is sleeping. You can play after she rests." She crouches on the ground and wraps her arms around her daughter. Her dark eyes are tired but happy. She shoots Bella and apologetic smile. "Sorry. She can't help it. She'sinlove."
And there's Drew, holding their other daughter, Margaret. She'sstilltiny.
Fuck, he looks sohappy.
It'sweird.
Drew was part of the original Dangerous Noise line up a long, long time ago. Back then, he was a moody asshole who made me look welladjusted.
And now… he'shappy.
"I've got her." Drew crouches next to his wife and sets his daughter down. She crawls over to her sister and tugs at her skirt. "You going to play nice with Hermoine or are you going homewithus?"
Alexandria poutsbutnods.
"You gonna take care of your sister?"heasks.
Again, Alexandria poutsbutnods.
"Good." Drew smiles as he looks to Bella. "You sure youdon'tmind?"
She nods. "Positive. I need to convince Joel one kid is all we canhandle."
Kara smiles. "Two is easier.Really."
