Page 17 of Family Bonds: Alana & Brennan
“She told me exactly how she wanted it.”
“I’m coming,” Becca yelled.
Brennan moved closer to the stairs, waited for his daughter, then caught her when she jumped off the third from the bottom.
Had to be another one of their things.
“Those are cute,” she said of the blue and white footy pajamas.
“They are my favorite,” Becca said. “Can you read me a story before bed?”
“I’ll do it,” Brennan said. “I’m sure Alana needs to catch her breath after her night with you.”
“Daddy says that too.”
“Now I know how you stay in shape,” she said. The heat filling her body might match the pink to his cheeks again.
She should have kept that comment to herself.
“It burns the calories,” he said.
“Can you come over Saturday to play with me?” Becca asked her.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’d love to, but I’ve got plans.”
“What?” Becca asked.
“That’s rude,” Brennan said. “Alana doesn’t have to share that.”
She shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m working the Christmas Toy Drive at the firehouse. This Saturday and next they are dropping toys off.”
“It’s nice of you to do that,” he said.
“The firemen get the toys at Christmas?” Becca asked.
She smiled. “No. It’s for kids.”
“Not all children get a big Christmas,” he said to the little girl in his arms. “Not like you do. People buy and donate toys to go to those kids that might not get gifts.”
“That’s sad,” Becca said. “Everyone should get toys. Can we buy some to bring them?”
“I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “We’ve got time to order a few and get them here by Saturday. We can do that right before bed.”
“Yes,” Becca said, putting her fist up. “I love shopping.”
“Oh boy,” Alana said.
Brennan rolled his eyes. “Tell me about it.”
He put Becca down on the ground. She ran to Alana and lifted her arms.
She bent down to scoop the little girl into her arms and was rewarded with an enormous, squeeze-the-air-out-of-you hug.
“I had fun tonight and now I’ll see you again. Can we play after?” Becca asked.
“Let’s not put too much pressure on Alana. I’ll figure out a time for us to go on Saturday to drop the toys off.” He reached for his daughter, Becca not wanting to go and hugging her tighter, putting her little head down.
“I can carry her to bed if you want,” she said. It didn’t look as if Becca was getting down without a tug of war.
