Page 80 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“Uncle Bridger is going to owe me the most, I thinks,” Melody said, giggling.
“If I were a betting man, I’d say you’re probably going to collect the most from him.”
“Winnie never says the swears,” my daughter said, beaming up at the woman holding her.
“Well, some of us are just a bit more mature than others.” She smirked, and my parents seemed to think her remark was hilarious.
“Fine. You’re more mature than I am,” I said, winking at her.
“Clearly.” My mother looked between us. “I’ve always been more mature than Dad. I think women just get it, you know?”
“Totally,” Winnie said.
“Am I a woman, too?” Melody asked, tipping her head back and looking up at Winnie like she held the moon in her hands.
I realized in that moment that we both looked at her that way.
It took everything I had not to pull them both onto my lap.
“You’re a perfect little girl right now,” Winnie said. “But someday you’ll be a woman. And honestly, you might be more mature than your daddy and your uncles already.”
“Hey,” I said over my laughter.
“I can’t argue that,” my father said.
“Is no one on my side here?” I threw my hands in the air, unable to hide the big smile on my face.
“I think your daddy should have to help me with the dishes, since he already put a dollar in the jar.” My mother stood.
“I can help,” Winnie said.
“Nope. You just relax, sweetheart.” Mom winked.
“I don’t know why I have to pay a dollaranddo the dishes,” I grumped as I stacked the plates and followed my mother into the kitchen.
She was still laughing as I set the pile in the sink.
“Don’t be a baby. You wash and I’ll load.”
“All right.”
“I’m taking my pops and my Winnie out to the tree swing,” my daughter called out, and I heard the back door close behind them.
“She’s good for you, you know?” my mother said.
“She’s great. She’s really good for Melody.”
“I agree. But I see as much of a difference in you as I see in Melody.”
I rolled my eyes.Here we go.
My mother was always playing matchmaker. She’d put expectations on our sort-of-relationship if she knew what was going on, and that would not be good.
We’d already agreed that it wasn’t going anywhere. We were just having some fun. Involving other people would only complicate matters.
“She makes my life easier, that’s a given.”
“I’ve never seen you smile or laugh so much, either. You’re more relaxed around her. And I see the way she looks at you. The way you look at her.”
