“Okay,” they say again.
Standing from the bed, I head back to the kitchen. Grayson is sitting at the island, scrolling through his phone. “You were right,” I tell him. I walk around him to the stove, pulling down the door to check the progress of our brownies.
“Oh, yeah?” he asks, placing his phone on the island.
“They had to show me their toys, and their room is destroyed.”
He nods, a smile playing on his lips. “That sounds like my girls.”
“I wish I had their energy.”
“Right?” he agrees. “Some days, it takes all I have in me to keep up with them. I know my mom and Christine have to be exhausted after keeping them all day.”
“I’m sure, but I’m also sure they love every minute of it.”
“They do.”
“It’s nice that you didn’t have to put them in daycare. My sister had to put Trace in daycare, and she hated it. I’m glad Mom and Dad will be able to help her out now that they’re home.”
“Is she home to stay?”
“Yes. At least I hope that they are. It feels like Trace has grown up overnight. I’m excited to get to spoil my nephew more than on visits every few months.”
“They do grow up fast,” he comments.
Conversation lulls, so I turn to check the brownies again, and they’re ready to come out of the oven. I’m removing the second pan when the girls come back into the kitchen.
“Can we have some?” Harlow asks.
“Not yet. They need to cool. How about you slide up on the stool, and I’ll help Daddy with this nail polish crisis,” I say, pointing at her hands.
“You don’t have to,” Grayson says.
“I don’t mind. That is if you want the help.”
“Four hands are better than two.” He stands and disappears, only to reappear with the fingernail polish remover and cotton swabs.
“I want nails wike yours,” Hayden says.
“Well, I think we might be able to arrange that. As long as it’s okay with your dad.”
“Oh, can we, Daddy? Pwease?” they say at the same time.
He smiles at them. “As long as Laken has the time.”
“I can make the time for my favorite little ladies.” I wink at the girls, and they dissolve into a fit of giggles.
“I should probably get going.” I stand and toss my napkin from my brownie into the trash. After Grayson and I got the polish off the girls’ hands and nails, I repainted their nails, much to their delight. They made sure to point out that I did a better job than their dad, and that he doesn’t do it very often. Then they proceeded to tell me that he put all their polish away when they accidentally got into it. But they weren’t mad at him because Nana bought them more. The image of Grayson painting his daughters’ nails is like a string wrapped around my heart and these two littles and their daddy are tugging on it.
“No,” the twins whine.
They’re tired, and I’m sure it’s getting close to their bedtime. “I have chores to do, like clean my room,” I tell them, and they gasp.
“Girls, what do you say?” Grayson asks them.
“Thank you, Waken,” they say together. They slide off their stool and rush toward me, each embracing a leg. I bend down and give them true hugs.
“Thank you so much for all of your help today. Can you do me a big favor?”
“Yes.”
“We can.”
“Make sure you remind your daddy to take these to the firehouse so he can share with his friends.”
“But we wants dem,” Hayden replies.
“I made a small plate for the three of you, and the rest for Daddy to take to work.”
“Yous the best, Waken.” Harlow throws her little arms around my neck, almost knocking me back on my ass as she embraces me tightly.
“Sissy’s wight,” Hayden agrees, and that’s when I feel her little arms hugging me too.
Hot tears prick my eyes. These girls have so much love to give, and my heart breaks for them, for Grayson, and for Holly. More than anything, I wish she could be here to see that her daughters have her same kind heart.
“I’ll see you, ladies, later this week.” I wave and head for the door.
“Girls, go grab some pjs, and I’ll be in for a bath in a few minutes. Don’t start the water without me,” he tells them.
“Okay, Daddy,” they reply as their little feet pitter-patter down the hall against the hardwood floor.
Just as I’m about to open the door to leave, Grayson’s voice stops me. “Laken.” I turn to look at him. “Thank you for today. You made two little girls very happy.”
“It was my pleasure.”
“Be safe driving home.”
“Always.” With a wave, I turn the knob and exit their home.
My feet feel as though they are filled with lead as I make my way to my car. I never could have imagined I’d spend a Sunday afternoon with Grayson Davis and his adorable twin daughters. Now that I have, it’s something I want to do all the time. I hate that I’m leaving their home.