Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
I also didn’t miss the look he passed his wife, which had her scrambling to get into the car before he took off.
A smile broke out over my face, and I jumped up and down while clapping my hands. Then I threw my hands around Gabe’s neck and jumped up and down while hugging him hard. Then repeated to Luke. I might have done it to the red head, too.
“Let’s go get her!” I screeched.
I was to the door and inside by the time Gabe caught up with me. The woman at the counter smiled warmly, and then asked for our ID’s to verify our identity.
“She’s in the toddler room eating her morning snack. It’s down this hallway second to last door on your right. Would you like me to take you to her, or do you think you can find it?” The worker asked.
I gave her a bright smile and shook my head. “No, I think we can find it. Thank you!”
We opened the door to the toddler room and saw two tables with chairs built into them filled with toddlers. They were all eating what looked like toast, but it was all chewed and slimy, so it could have been anything at that point.
I immediately found Cora. She was the only girl who had black curly hair and olive-toned skin. She was dressed in a pink solid shirt with black leggings. No shoes. Her face had remnants of her snack sticking to it, and she was drinking from a green plastic sippy cup.
I smiled at the teacher who came to greet us. The teacher was in a bright blue t-shirt that had “Primary Colors” across the boobs, and blue jeans. She was young, brown-haired, and blue eyed. She was also giving my man googly eyes.
“You must be Cora’s dad. You look just like her.” The teacher said.
“Yes, I am. Did Sidney tell you the situation?” Gabe asked.
She looked confused when she said, “What situation?”
“I’m filing for joint custody. I’ll be picking Cora up every other Friday, as well as every Wednesday until we have it settled.” Gabe explained.
“How awful, I’m sorry to hear that you and Mrs. Moran are separating.” Blondie said.
Gabe didn’t answer, but went to stand to the side of the table that Cora was at, and squatted down to Cora’s level. He regarded her for a second, and then reached out and ran his finger down the side of her cheek.
Cora giggled, and immediately held her hands out for him to pick her up. My heart soared when I witnessed this. One of my fears drifted away. I was so worried that Cora would be scared of Gabe since she’d never met him, but apparently, she didn’t have that “stranger danger” mentality yet.
Gabe leaned over and picked her up out of the chair. He put one forearm under her tiny little bottom, and the other circled around her back to hug her to him. His eyes closed, and my heart melted. This was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for this to go any better.
We exited the daycare and hustled to the truck where I strapped Cora into her new car seat. Gabe watched on since he didn’t have a clue how to do it. We stopped by Subway to pick up lunch, and then headed back to Free.
Everyone and their brother (literally, because Max came too) poured out of the front office to welcome us home. I got out and unbuckled her from her seat. She was dead to the world, so I did it as carefully as I could so I didn’t wake her. Cora’s head fell limply to my shoulder, and I closed the door quietly before turning to the gathering.
The all looked on with adoration in their eyes, and gathered close to get a better look at her. Cheyenne raised up on her tiptoes to give her a kiss on the forehead before backing off. Blaine repeated the process as well.
“She’s beautiful, Gabe.” Jack said gruffly.
“Thanks, man.” Gabe said before smacking him on the back.
Walking to Gabe, I passed Cora over. He didn’t out and out say it, but you could tell that he wanted to have her in his arms again. She transferred smoothly, and I grabbed the lunch out of the front seat before walking in to the office. I picked the chair next to the desk so I could have somewhere to sit my lunch.
Everyone followed, and took seats where they could. Gabe stayed standing, swaying back and forth. Max snuck up behind me and tried to grab a chip.
I smacked his hand away and mumbled, “Back off, bitch.”
Cheyenne laughed and informed me that I wasn’t allowed to say bad words anymore.
Yea right. We’ll see how that goes. I tried quitting once; it was the worst seven minutes of my life.
Ten minutes later Cheyenne’s mom rolled up with her twins and Janie. Her girls weren’t quiet little creatures. They were loud, obnoxious, disrespectful, and awesome. I taught them with everything I knew. Janie was also my little creation. I taught her how to belch, give Wet Willies, and even how to play Candy Land. When the twins were old enough, and the same went for Cora now, I would teach them the same things.
Cheyenne’s mom looked about ready to puller hair out as she walked in.
“I tried to shoot for nap time, but I just couldn’t handle it anymore. Janie watched the VMA’s last night, and she keeps getting her teddy bear and dancing crazy like that Miley girl. The twins were copying her, and I just couldn’t handle it anymore. She doesn’t stop.”
I burst out laughing. “So she was twerking?”
“If that what you young kids call it these days. I remember when you and Cheyenne used to sing and dance to those boy bands. At least they didn’t do a bunch of butt shakes. Lord knows I heard and saw enough of them to last me a lifetime.” Cheyenne’s mom said.
N’Sync and Backstreet Boys were the bomb when we were younger. I used to have a picture of Justin Timberlake above my bed. Cheyenne had a picture of Nick off Backstreet boys over hers. We constantly fought over who was better. To this day, we still argued over it.