“I know, ’cause I’m da best.” She nods then dips her spoon into her cereal, shoving a large spoonful into her mouth like she didn’t just rock my world.
“Hello?” is yelled as the front door opens and shuts, and I look from Hope towards the door to the kitchen and watch Ashlyn walk in wearing a pair of simple black ballet flats, dark grey slacks, and a black blouse. It all looks good on her, but isn’t what she normally wears, and I wonder if this is the work uniform her new boss requested.
“Hey, princess,” she greets Hope with a kiss to her cheek then turns to look at her brother then me. “Am I interrupting something?” she asks, and I shake my head, knowing I won’t be able to talk to Jax until later tonight about Hope calling him Daddy Ax. Not that I really want to talk to him about it. I don’t know what I will do if he says he doesn’t feel comfortable with her calling him that.
“Nope, but I love your outfit,” I say, watching her eyes roll.
“My boss is an asshole,” she mutters as her nose scrunches up in disgust.
“Asshole is a naudy word,” Hope chimes in helpfully, making her cringe.
“Sorry, honey,” she tells her, watching as Hope shrugs then takes another bite of her cereal.
“I gotta head out,” Jax says, placing his cup in the sink and shoving his keys into his pocket. “I won’t be back until dinner.”
“We’ll be here all day,” I say, leaning up on my tiptoes when his arm bands around my waist.
“Be good.”
“Maybe.” I smile, watching his eyes darken right before his head dips and he whispers, “Or don’t,” kissing me softly then letting me go. Placing his hand on the top of his sister’s head, he rubs it roughly, messing up her hair and making her shriek before going to Hope and kissing her forehead.
“Men are jerks,” Ashlyn grumbles, running her hand down her hair, trying to tame it. Then, she looks toward the front door and back to me when we hear it close, signaling Jax’s departure. “He’s gone,” she whispers.
“Go brush your teeth, Angel, then come back down and I’ll tell you what we’re going to do today,” I tell Hope, watching her scoot off her chair and run for the stairs. “Did you bring the stuff?” I ask looking at Ashlyn, referring to the decorations for Jax’s surprise party.
“They’re in my car.” She smiles, and I feel excitement bubble up inside me.
“What time is everyone getting here?”
“Around five. I’ll be back at three to help set up,” she says, going to the coffee pot and pouring herself a cup. “Are you sure you don’t want me to pick up a cake?” she asks, going to the fridge and getting out the cream, pouring some into her cup.
“I’m sure. I figured Hope and I could make him one.”
“He’ll love that,” she says as her face goes soft.
“I hope so,” I mutter. This whole family thing is still kind of new to me, but this is what I have always wanted, and this is what I want Hope’s memories to be filled with.
“Have you talked to July today?” she asks, changing the subject and leaning back against the counter.
“We talked this morning,” I say, wondering if she knows about us confirming that the picture was of the guy who had gotten away.
“She told me that you guys identified the other assailant.”
“We did,” I say quietly, looking toward the hall in case Hope comes back down.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m glad we know who he is and that there is now a chance of him getting caught,” I say then drop my voice. “But it doesn’t feel real anymore. It feels like something I made up in my mind, like it never really happened.”
“I think that’s because you know you’re safe.”
“Maybe, but I worry I’ve let my guard down too much, that this is all to easy.”
“Maybe it’s your turn for easy,” she returns as I hear Hope’s feet on the hardwood floor and watch her run past the kitchen doorway. Then I hear the sound of her being followed by little paws a moment later, letting me know she let the puppies out of their pen in the living room.