83

“Fudge. Whatever the fudge that means.”

I ran my hand across his beard. It had grown so much thicker; it hadn’t been groomed since the accident. “I don’t know what to say …”

He pushed himself up and kissed me.

“Ewww, Daddy! Enough smoochin’.”

I laughed as we separated and said to Ford, “I love you.” And then I pressed my lips to Everly’s cheek and whispered, “I looove you.”

Twenty-Five

Ford

I

was just finishing a set of curls when Everly came running into my home gym, shouting, “Bye, Daaaddy!”

Her hair, which was getting so long, bounced like the top of a mop, her glittery shoes squeaking across the rubber flooring.

“No running.”

She only slowed when she reached me. “Oopsie. Too late.” She raised her arms in the air.

I placed the weights down and lifted her up, holding her against my chest, and noticed Sydney standing in the doorway. Her hand was wrapped around the handle of Eve’s pink suitcase. “Looks like you have everything packed for Mimi and Papa’s house.”

“Yep.” She made a face