"Sure. Thanks." Shelby passed over her brother with a quick buzz-kiss on his cheek to make him giggle. "Catch you later, Paddy."
Her dad hefted him up onto his shoulders. "Let's go find your mama, Bruiser. Bye, Shel.
No later than one o'clock."
Of course, some things never changed.
"Roger that, Colonel." Smiling, Shelby slid her hand into John's, backing away as she took one last look at her family. With Ivy tucked under her arm, Julia tickled her son's nose with a flower. Patrick squealed from on top of her dad's shoulders. Then her dad smiled at Julia. Julia smiled back. Simple stuff. But good, really good.
And Shelby realized something else she wouldn't have thought a year ago.
Her old man wasn't such a nimrod after all.