Page 98 of Draft Pick
Selfishly, I thought it held something solely for me.Bummer.
Juniper runs back, excited to share, and Addie doesn’t miss the box. “A present!” she cheers, hoping for the best.
“Something like that,” Juniper tells her, settling across from us in the booth. “So, when I was a little girl, I loved to write notes to the people I loved. Kind of how you loved to draw pictures for people, right, Doodle?”
“Daddy has a whole stack of my pictures.” She smiles brightly.
“Exactly. And they are so special to him. Since the three of us are becoming a family, hopefully,” she notes hesitantly, and I confirm her worries with a smile and nod. “I wanted to give you both a gift from me. Consider this my version of drawings and notes.”
Juniper’s girlish grin makes me love her even more, the glasses resting on her nose bouncing when she gets overly animated. She slides the box to us, insisting we open it. “Go ahead,” I tell Addie, knowing she’s chomping at the bit. She unclips a metal lock, revealing a stack of cards.
“Cards! I love cards!”
But they aren’t just any cards. My chest thunders, an overwhelming flood of adoration for this woman shocking my nervous system. Connected to an O-ring are nearly thirty index-sized cards, full oflove coupons, as the top card reads.
“Love coupons,” I state, peering to look at Juniper. “Doc.”
“Open ’em up.” She smiles.
These aren’t just some store-bought templates or ones that can be quickly made online. They’re homemade, each coupon intentionally designed by her hand. She’s nothing close to a natural artist, and I think that’s what makes this gesture even more special.
“Wanna read one to us, Doodle?” Juniper asks, insisting Addie flip through it.
Addie clears her throat, her eyes unsure of where to look first as she takes in all of Juniper’s hand-drawn pictures. “Good for free hugs.” Her little body buzzes, processing what she read. “Free hugs? Daddy, Princess Juniper gives the best hugs.”
I kiss Addie’s head as she flips to the next one. “She really does, baby girl.”
“Good for a movie night past bedtime. Shut up!” I should have known she’d be ecstatic about that one.
“Got any for daddy in there?” I ask, peeking toward the back of the stack and finding one right away. “Good for one free massage.”
“Oooo,” Addie coos. “Now Uncle Gus won’t have to do it!”
Juniper bursts into laughter. “Uncle Gus, huh?”
“Only when Dr. Laken is unavailable.” I roll my eyes, sending little miss chatty a side-eye. “Thanks a lot, kid. You ratted me out.”
Addie shrugs. “Even Aunt TT said she thought it was weird.”
“Alright, alright. Enough of the roasting,” I tell her, eyes trained back on this thoughtful gift. “Juniper, this gift is incredibly thoughtful. Truly. Thank you.”
“Of course. I love you,” she reminds me with full confidence before turning to Addie. “And I love you. You’ve given me a gift that nothing could ever match…being accepted into your family. I can’t promise I’ll be perfect, but I promise to try.”
“You’re enough just the way you are.”
“I love you so, so, so much, Princess Juniper.” Addie leaps from the booth to hug her, face nuzzling into her neck.
“Hey, we still need to show your dad all the dance moves I taught you!”
Addie’s voice increases in volume. “Oh! Daddy, I’m such a good dancer! I learned Sheryl Crown, a lady named Jewel, and a Beatle!”
Laughter vibrates through my chest at her attempt at pronouncing their names. “Is that right? I guess you’re going to need to put on a performance for me when we get home, then, Queen Adeline of Emerald City.”
“That can be arranged.”The sass.
“Hey, little queen. Can I ask you something?” Juniper stammers, having even me curious.
“You may,” Addie answers, like the royal highness she is.
