Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
“You can foot the bill for the zoo, how about that?” she says.
“Yeah. Absolutely.” I’m grateful for the save. “I’ll even splurge on overpriced popcorn and ice cream.”
That puts a smile back on her face. “Ice cream is a must at the zoo. And funnel cakes.” She opens the driver’s side door and gets in her car.
I wait on the front steps until she backs out and pulls away before I go back inside.
The smell of fresh baked cookies lingers in the hallway.
I’ve missed this. The hominess that comes with having someone around who bakes not because they feel obligated to, or because Peyton had to beg them, but because they honestly and truly derive joy from doing it.
I move through the house, shutting off lights as I go, and stop in the kitchen, stealing one last cookie as I survey the room, my eyes catching on the picture Harley and Peyton painted this evening, which is stuck to the fridge with magnets.
This is what Peyton has been missing. Someone in her life who loves the same things she does, who will have fun with her, be silly with her. And maybe I’ve been missing that too. I feel like I robbed us both of that when we moved to Boulder and away from Lynn and Ian and their daughter Claire, and the other friends we had here. But Karen had been right in a lot of ways. I had family who was willing to help care for Peyton; it didn’t make sense to keep paying someone to care for my daughter when she had other people who wanted that time with her. And I felt like I owed them that after losing my wife, Marcie.
But I have to admit, being back in Colorado Springs feels right. And it’s good to have Harley back in our lives.
Seven
A TASTE OF HAPPINESS
GAVIN
The following afternoon Peyton and I meet Harley and her niece, Ella, at the entrance to the zoo. I tried to invite Ian to come along, but he has a late meeting and Claire has one of her many lessons, so it’s me, Harley, and the kids.
It’s a warm afternoon, the sun is shining, and there’s a slight breeze. Harley is dressed for the weather in a tank top, shorts, running shoes, and a baseball cap to shield her face, pushing a stroller with the adorable fair-haired toddler who pooped all over Harley’s tutu at the birthday party.
“Harley brought Ella, Dad! This is going to be so much fun.” When I don’t move fast enough for Peyton, she lets go of my hand and skips the last few steps over to Harley.
She gives her a big hug, then bends down to say hello to Ella.
“I hope you don’t mind me bringing Ella along. I figured it was a good opportunity for my sister and her husband to get in some alone time, or a nap. Or both. Ella’s teething, and the broken sleep is killing London.”
“I remember those days only too well.”
“Those could be some long nights.” She busies herself with adjusting the stroller to make sure the sun isn’t on Ella’s face. She’s wearing a T-shirt that says ME AND MY AUNTIE GOT IN TROUBLE TODAY.
“Can we visit the meerkats first? They’re so funny,” Peyton asks, breaking the sudden tension.
“For sure. Let’s get our tickets.” Harley pushes the stroller while Peyton tells her all about the day camp she’s been attending this week. It’s arts- and drama-focused and right up Peyton’s alley.
“One adult and three kids?” the girl at the ticket booth asks. Her name tag reads Stashia.
Harley’s head is tipped down, her face covered by the brim of her WE’RE ALL PRINCESSES ball cap. She’s trying to open her backpack, which also happens to be princess-themed and probably belongs to Ella. Harley’s head snaps up and Stashia’s eyes go wide. “Oh! I’m so sorry. Family of four.”
My lips press together, and I try not to react, but I give Harley a sidelong glance. Her eyes are wide and darting between me and Stashia.
“Harley used to be my nanny,” Peyton, my ever-observant daughter, pipes up.
The girl in the booth, who looks to be in her late teens, glances back and forth between me, Peyton, Harley, and baby Ella, a whole range of emotions including scandalized crossing her face before her mouth turns up in a very awkward, very fake smile. “That’s so nice,” she says in a pitchy, strained voice.
I have to give it to her, she’s really trying to keep it together.
And of course because Peyton loves to talk and tell random strangers things they definitely don’t need to know, she tacks on, “My mommy went to heaven before I had a chance to meet her, so the angels sent Harley to take care of me when I was a brand-new baby. We’re going to see the pandas today and the meerkats because they’re fun to watch.”