16. Ellie
SIXTEEN
ELLIE
Forever Dad’s home!
Find the perfect sock.
But be quiet, Ellie Belly.
Forever Mom’s asleep.
Ellie Belly should be asleep, too.
It’s past bedtime.
I’ll go back to bedtime after I give Forever Dad his new sock.
Sniff, sniff, sniff.
This one!
It’s the bestest sock.
Quiet steps.
Don’t wake Forever Mom.
Hang on, sock.
Ellie Belly needs to open the door.
Grab the rope.
Bite the rope.
Tug, tug, tug.
There!
Okay, sock, let’s go!
The gate’s locked again.
That’s an easy one.
Use your nose Ellie Belly.
Push up.
Click.
Ellie Belly’s the smartest girl.
Quiet steps.
Like last time.
Forever Dad’s not in the kitchen.
Sniff, scan, sniff, scan.
There he is, on the couch!
Trot, trot, trot.
“Jesus, Ellie! You scared me.”
Ellie’s not scary.
“It’s two a.m. How did you get in?”
You left the door open, Forever Dad.
Too easy for Ellie Belly.
Here.
“Another sock?”
This is the bestest sock.
“Does your mom know you’re stealing all her socks?”
Silly Forever Dad.
These are Ellie Belly’s socks.
“Well, you might as well hang out.”
Pat, pat.
“You can sit on the couch.”
Thanks, Forever Dad!
Let me get riiiiight next to you.
There.
“This is my mom. It’s my favorite picture of us. She came to visit me when I was stationed in Alaska.”
Forever Dad, don’t be sad.
I’ll cuddle you.
Let. Me. Just. Get—
“Ellie, what are you doing?”
In. Your. Lap.
There.
Lick.
“You really are sweet, aren’t you?”
Ellie Belly’s the sweetest girl.
“I miss her.”
Forever Dad needs a hug.
“I didn’t mean to be so rude to your mom earlier. I just . . .”
Oof! That’s a tight hug.
Lick.
Don’t worry.
I’ll stay with you, Forever Dad.