Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“That was only for half the kids?” I asked.
“Yes! I’m not looking forward to the day we have children. My wife is going to spoil them.”
Leading Wade into the living room, I pointed to the bar. “Want a drink?”
He shook his head as he sat on the sofa.
“Speaking of children, when are you Amelia going to pop out a baby or two?”
“I don’t know. We talked about waiting another year, but we’re open to changing our minds. It’s hard to be around Chloe and Gage and not want one of your own.”
“Tell me about it. Steed makes being a dad look damn easy too, and I know it’s not.”
“It should be fun to see Mitchell become a dad.”
Laughing, I leaned forward. “Dude, Cord and Trevor? I can’t wait until the day some woman knocks those two on their asses.”
Wade agreed. “Hell, that is going to be fun.”
“What’s going to be fun?” Amelia asked, walking in and carrying a tote bag.
“When the love bug finally hits Cord and Trevor.”
Amelia grinned. “Yes! That will be amazing.”
Standing, Wade took the tote from Amelia. “Any more things to carry?”
“Two more bags. Waylynn said you already took the presents out to your truck?”
“Yeah, the back seat is piled high so I’m afraid we’re going to have to take two vehicles.”
Wade let out a gruff laugh. “Dude, you can’t fit anything else into the backseat of my truck. This stuff is going to have to go on the floor.”
Waylynn called out, “Okay! I’ve got everything packed up! Let’s go! I’ll lock up,” she added over her shoulder as she grabbed her purse and another bag.
We were soon on the road and headed to San Antonio. I jumped when a crackling sound came from next to Waylynn.
“Testing. Testing one, two, three.”
Waylynn giggled and grabbed a walkie-talkie from her purse.
“This is My Little Pony. I hear you coming in strong Princess Jasmine.”
What in the fuck?
“My Little Pony?” I asked.
“Yeah, it’s our code names. Yours is Flynn Rider, and Wade’s is Kristoff. You know, from Tangled and Frozen.”
“Oh, now wait a minute! Flynn Rider? Are you kiddi—”
I was interrupted by a loud scream. “Stop the truck!”
I didn’t even think twice as I put the brakes on and pulled over.
“CODE GREEN!” Waylynn screamed into the walkie-talkie. “I repeat. Code green!”
She was out the door before I put the damn truck in park. Waylynn took off down the street, waving her hands for the other cars to watch out.
“What in the hell is she doing?” Wade asked, his face drained of all color. “You slammed on the brakes and then Waylynn’s voice was screaming in my truck.”
“You’re lucky you didn’t hit him, Wade!” Waylynn yelled.
Poor Wade. He looked lost. “You mean to tell me you haven’t been on a turtle rescue mission with Waylynn yet?”
He stared at me like I was the one who had gone mad.
“Oh my God! He’s peeing!” Amelia shouted.
Wade watched as Waylynn crossed the street with the turtle while her sister held up her hands to the car that had pulled to stop.
Amelia pointed to the cowboy sitting behind the wheel of the Ford truck. “That’s right, mister. We are on a turtle lifesaving mission here.”
“Are they fucking crazy?” Wade asked.
“They’re Parker women. They give crazy a new meaning.”
Waylynn set the turtle down, gave Amelia the thumbs up, and shouted, “All clear!” Waving the truck on, Amelia stepped out of the way. As Waylynn came walking back to us, she high-fived her sister.
“This is my sixth experience with this. After the second, I learned to put hand sanitizer in my truck.”
Wade looked at me. “Good move.”
I held the bottle of sanitizer up, and he laughed.
“You almost hit him, Wade!” Waylynn scolded as she walked up and took the hand sanitizer and then handed it to Amelia.
“Yuck, I forgot he peed.”
“I nearly ran into the back of Jonathon!”
Waylynn shrugged and slapped Wade on the side of the arm. “Don’t tailgate, buddy.”
And just like that, she headed back to my truck.
“I’m taking the lead now!” Wade stated as he climbed into his truck. Amelia wore a huge grin as she looked at me.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing. Nothing at all.”
She rounded the front of the truck and got in. Shaking my head, I ran my hand through my hair and mumbled, “Parker women.”
* * *
Five hours later we were sitting on the back porch of Mick and Wanda’s house. A few of the kids had gotten ready for bed and were in their rooms. The older ones were in the living room playing video games.
“Are all the kids living here now adopted by y’all?” I asked.
Wanda’s face lit up. “Yes. The last adoption was finalized a few weeks ago.”
“It must be rewarding to be able to give these kids a loving home.”
“It’s one of the greatest gifts God has given us, besides our own two children. We don’t look at them any different. They are all so loved.”