Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“Okay, I will be patient. Thank you,” Elijah says sweetly and scoots a little closer to his older brother.
At six, Elijah is forever testing his brother’s boundaries to see what kind of mood he’s in and if he’ll allow him in closer. He has learned that Sammy has days when he’s too overwhelmed to have his younger siblings up under him, no matter how much they love to be around him.
“I want a turn too,” Paulie says and rushes over with his apple to sit on Sammy’s other side on the floor.
“You’re going to need to wash your hands. I don’t want my controller to get all sticky from that apple.”
“Mom, Sammy isn’t sharing with me. I want a turn too,” Paulie whines.
“Don’t tell lies. I hate lies. Be honest and stop tattling. Follow directions and you can have a turn too.”
“Mom,” Paulie protests.
“Your brother is right. He didn’t say you couldn’t have a turn. He asked you to wash your hands first,” I say.
Paulie is four and loves to tell on his siblings when he isn’t getting his way. I love my son, but I know he’s a spin master when it comes to him getting what he wants. That mess doesn’t work around here though.
LaSalle can’t stand it. It’s a behavior I’ve been trying to help Paulie grow out of. Some days, he really tests my patience with it.
“Paulie, I told you to stay at the table with that apple.” LaSalle’s voice booms through the room.
Paulie jumps up like God himself just spoke. I can’t help the laugh that bubbles to my lips as my son looks back at his father then at his brothers. He then runs his little butt back to the table where he should be sitting to eat the apple he had to have before LaSalle had to take a call.
As he places the apple on the table, then scrambles to get back into his seat, LaSalle walks over to him and lifts him into the chair to help him. Paulie looks up at his father, waiting to be chastised some more. However, LaSalle only dips to kiss the top of his head before whispering something in his ear then patting his headful of curls.
Paulie’s eyes sparkle as he looks back at his father. All my children love their father deeply. LaSalle is firm but loving. He probably promised Paulie to play with him when it’s his turn if he stops with the tattling and storytelling.
Sunny begins to squirm in my lap. I lift him against my shoulder and begin to rub his back. He’s been cranky for the last half hour because he’s fighting off his nap. LaSalle comes over and kisses the top of my head before plucking our son out of my arms.
“You want to go take a bath and relax before dinner? Our reservations are for seven,” he murmurs as he pats Sunny’s back while swaying with him in his arms.
“Daddy,” Karen sings. “Come have tea?”
“Give me one sec, sweetheart. Save me some of those cookies you baked.”
Karen smiles from ear to ear as she pulls the plate of imaginary cookies away from her sisters to save them for her father. She looks adorable in her little apron with her thick curls pulled into a single puff on top of her head.
It’s LaSalle’s signature style. The only one he can manage on his own without looking and feeling lost while trying to do our youngest daughter’s hair on his own. I love the man for even trying.
Karen will wear whatever her daddy does. LaSalle can do no wrong in her little eyes. She’s as smitten with him as he is with her. I cover my mouth to keep from laughing when Jessica reaches for another imaginary cookie and Karen glares at her.
“Go on, baby. I’ve got them,” LaSalle says, pulling me from my musing.
“I don’t want to oversleep. I’m excited about tonight.”
I am. It’s been a while since we had a night out and I can’t wait to get some alone time with my husband.
“Don’t worry. I’ll wake you in time to get ready. You look as tired as this guy,” he says, nodding to a passed-out Sunny in his arms.
Watching this man with our children just does something to me. I know the other side of LaSalle, so to see how gentle he can be with our brood always warms my heart.
“A bath and a glass of wine do sound good. Thanks. Let me know if they start to drive you crazy.”
He winks at me. “I’ve got them. I’m going to put this one down in his room and then I’m going to sit with my girls for tea. Maybe my boys will let me play a round once they’ve all had a turn.”
“You won’t have time. You’re going to be late if you choose to play. The restaurant has mixed up your reservation, and you will lose your table if you delay. The wait will make you angry,” Sammy says.