Page 123 of Craving Theodora
“Let’s see what my day looks like first,” she replied with a grimace, leaning up to kiss me.
The kids were loud as they came downstairs and filtered into the kitchen, talking over each other as they grabbed breakfast and drinks.
“Should we tell them?” Teddy asked, leaning her head on my shoulder.
“Sure.”
“Hey, guys, we’re getting married,” she said, not even raising her voice above the noise.
It didn’t matter.
The entire kitchen went silent in a second.
“Cool!” Finn said. “Can I be the ring bearer?”
“Or a groomsman,” Teddy replied with a wink.
“Adoption!” Jesse said, throwing their arm in the air. “I want to be adopted.”
“What?” Teddy sputtered, and I choked on my coffee.
Jesse looked at me. “You said I could call you Pop!”
“That’s new,” Teddy murmured, shooting me a look.
“We were busy with other shit,” I reminded her, wheezing.
“So I want to be adopted,” Jesse said. “And I’m going to change my name.”
“Hell yeah,” Dylan said around the food in his mouth. “Harrison for life.”
“Yep,” Jesse agreed. She looked at Teddy. “I’m sorry, Mom, but comeon. My name isJesse James. Look at me. That was a fucked decision.”
“Wasn’t mine,” Teddy said wryly, shrugging. “But I couldn’t change it when you were three.”
“I know. You’re way too cool for that.”
“I want to be a Harrison too,” Finn said, looking at me hopefully.
“Works for me,” I choked out.
“Cool,” Jesse said briskly. “Then it’s decided.” They turned to Dylan. “Come on. We need to go, or we’ll be late.”
Teddy laughed beside me, but I was still stunned.
“Good luck on your first day,” Jess said as they came to hug Teddy and then me. “We’ll see you after school.”
“Have a good day,” Teddy replied.
“Don’t take any shit, Finn,” Jesse ordered him, ruffling his hair as she passed him.
“I’m going to be nice,” Finn argued, twisting in his chair. “So people willlikeme.”
“Looks like we’re goin’,” Dylan muttered in exasperation, leaving his bowl on the table as he followed Jess out of the room. “Bye! Don’t take any shit at school, Finn!”
“Why do they keep saying that?” Finn asked us in exasperation, his scowl ruined by the milk mustache he was sporting.
“I have no idea,” Teddy answered him, walking over to wipe it away with her thumb. “Go put your shoes on, son. It’s almost time to go.”
