Chapter 9
Harrison
“Thanks, Sebastian. I owe you.”
I hang up and check on the progress. When you’re a dad of three, packing is apparently a team sport.
My suitcase sits open on the bed, and the kids treating it like a donation bin.
Connor tosses hoodies in. “You’ll need these.”
“It’s California,” I remind him. I doubt I’ll be wearing anything fleece-lined.
“It gets chilly at night,” he says, like he’s the parent. “Besides, this is how they dress in L.A. You want to fit in, right?”
There will be no fitting in. Especially not in one of his hoodies that won’t clear my neck.
Still, I let them stay.
Ollie starts tossing in every T-shirt from one of my drawers. “Options.”
“I’ll be gone two days. Not two months.”
“It’s like you always say. Be prepared.” Then he moves on to the next drawer and keeps going.
For the love of God. At this rate, I’m going to need three more suitcases just for shirts.
Snooki climbs up on the bed and carefully places a stuffed teddy bear right in the middle. “For when you miss us.”
That one… that one hits hard.
It’s her favorite. Mr. Buttons. He’s missing an eye, and probably overdue for a wash.
But it seems like just yesterday I won him for her at the fall fair.
Three shots. Three rubber ducks in a row.
The woman in cat makeup running the booth couldn’t have been nicer. She told Snooki she could pick any prize she wanted.
Sure, there were bigger ones. Cuter ones.
But my girl went straight for the one missing an eye.
“He needs a home,” she said.
Something in my chest goes a little tight as I smooth her hair.
She looks up at me. “What’s wrong?”
I clear my throat. “Just remembering when the lady at the fair gave you Mr. Buttons.”
“You mean Aunt Jess?”
I blink.
Hmm… She did kind of look like Jess.
Twenty minutes later, it takes all three of them piled on to get the suitcase to zip, which we do before anyone can sneak in a snow globe or a frying pan.
Mrs. D. pops her head in. “Travis is almost here,” she says, sweetly rushing us. She came extra early to fix the kids her famous banana chocolate chip pancakes.
I head for the door as they lag a few steps behind, whispering.
I slow my steps, trying to catch what they’re up to.
Though whatever it is, they’ll be forgiven.
I just hope it doesn’t involve an insurance claim.
Goodbyes take longer than they should.
Connor gives me one of those quick, one-armed hugs that says he’s a man.
I yank him back in. “Stop growing.”
He rolls his eyes, but doesn’t let go right away.
Next is Ollie, who wraps both arms around my middle before slipping something into my back pocket. “A snack for the plane.”
I’m a little afraid of what he just put there.
And Snooki…
My little girl hops into my arms and wraps herself around my neck like my little koala. “Will you still do bedtime stories?”
I breathe my little munchkin in. “Try and stop me.”
The doorbell rings.
Ollie beats me to the door and Travis steps inside. He points to Ollie’s ear. “What’s that?”
Already mid–sleight of hand, he pulls a quarter from behind it.
When Snooki immediately starts checking her own ear for change, he produces another one for her.
They light up like it’s the best thing they’ve ever seen.
Connor just chuckles and gives me a wave.
Mrs. D. glances over at me. “Don’t you worry about a thing. We’ve got it covered.”
Connor looks at Travis. “There’s something you should see in the kitchen.”
“What would Travis need to see in the kitchen?” I ask.
He looks to Mrs. D.
“Pancakes,” she says, easily. “Why else?”
Travis grins. “I love pancakes.”
The kids latch onto him and start tugging him toward the kitchen like an adopted puppy, and I use the distraction to make sure I haven’t forgotten anything.
A minute later, Travis reappears, slinging my luggage over his shoulder. “Ready?”
I turn to Mrs. D., almost helplessly. “I’ll keep my phone on until takeoff. If you need anything at all, I’ll come right back.”
“We’ll be fine,” she assures me.
I pull them all in for another round of hugs.
Probably longer than necessary.
Definitely not long enough.