Page 62 of Bedtime Stories
“Do I get a say in this?” I ask, but no one listens. They're on a mission.
Theo dumps a bag of pumpkin beads onto the counter.
“Fall festival bracelets!” he announces, tossing a few beads in the air and catching them like a juggler. “We craft while we watch a movie. Multi-tasking is key to happiness.”
Timmy plops down next to me, stuffing marshmallows into his mouth while threading beads.
“C’mon, Oren. You have to help. Can’t let us do all the work.”
I grin, grabbing a string and sliding beads on, feeling a sense of calm and chaos colliding.
Lane sneaks a piece of grilled cheese onto my plate. “Here. Fuel for more secrets.”
I bite into the warm and gooey sandwich and laugh despite myself.
“Okay, okay,” I say, threading a tiny pumpkin onto my bracelet. “I… I just don’t want Vince to mess with me again. I hate that I let it get to me.”
“See?” Lane says, tossing another bead in the air. “Told ya. We’re your backup. And your Daddy’s handling the real stuff, remember?”
Timmy leans over, nudging me with his elbow.
“Yeah, seriously. And maybe next time we make a plan to outsmart him together?”
I nod, feeling lighter than I have in days. The movie flickers on in the background, the smell of toasted bread and Timmy’s marshmallows fill my living room, and I realize that somehow,all of this—the energy, the noise, the big hearts surrounding me—is exactly what I needed to feel like myself again, and ready to keep going.
