Page 23 of Unbreakable
“Well, with all the free time she has, she should be able?—”
I opened the door to the inside, and was greeted in my favorite possible way.
“Daddy!”
Three sets of feet thundered down the hall, Jeannie peeking out from the kitchen to watch the kids run at me. My phone was tucked into my shoulder as I carried my bag.
“Mom, I just got home, so I’ll have to talk to you later. Love you!” I couldn’t hear her response over the kids, so I just hung up.
“Mommy said to ask you if we could have ice cream when you got here,” Greyson shouted before he even made it all the way to me.
“That’s not what I said,” Jeanine chimed in.
I crouched down, dropping my bag and holding each of my kids. I planted a kiss on each of their heads or cheeks, whatever I could reach.
“Daddy, I wanna show you the outfit I put on Charlie,” Alice whined, dragging me by the hand as I stood. Charlie was her stuffed cat that had been her sidekick since she was an infant.
“And I want to play super freeze tag!” Greyson added.
“Me too, Daddy. Please?” Bella added.
“Hold your horses. I want to see your mama first.” I made it to the kitchen, where Jeanine was cutting some potatoes for dinner. I slid my hands into her waist from behind and kissed her cheek. “Hey, J.”
“Hi,” she said, her cheeks going a little pink.
“I just got off the phone with Ma. We’re hosting Thanksgiving for sure now. They’re going to drive in from Pittsburgh and stay in a hotel.”
“Oh. Great,” Jeannie said, a chirp in her voice I knew she didn’t mean. “They could stay here, you know. We have the extra room.”
I leveled her with a look. “I’m sure that’s exactly what you want.”
A small smirk tipped up the corner of her lips.
I swatted her butt. “Go easy. I’ll make it worth your while.”
I’m the first to admit that my parents, especially my mother, can be a handful. Whenever we have to see them, I make it a point to treat Jeanine to something special. Sometimes that’s sex just the way she likes it, sometimes even extra naughty by sneaking off when we’re with my parents. Sometimes it’s an actual gift. Sometimes a date day together, just me and her.
But as I thought about it, it had been a while since I’d taken her on a nice date that didn’t have to do with hockey.
“Daddy, will you come look now?” Alice wheedled me.
“No, play with me first!” Greyson whined. “Mom’s been so busy!”
“Alice asked first!” I said. “Yes, sweetie, I’d love to see what Charlie’s up to. Thank you for waiting.”
ELEVEN
JEANINE
THEN
“Seven and eight!”
I finished the dance combo along with the other twenty people on the floor, my final pose a dramatic drop. I’d crushed it. My turns were 100% on the mark, my stage presence impeccable, and my kicks the highest they’d ever been, despite the churn in my stomach. I wasn’t sure if that churn was from being pregnant or from nerves, but I leaned toward the former.
I even caught the casting director getting a soft smile watching me. This was good. I could even get called up for a bigger role.
Later, we stood on the line to hear who was getting to sing and who was getting sent home.
