Page 114 of Small Town, Big Storm

“One sugar,” I murmur.“A big splash of cream.”

Silently, he doctors up my coffee and passes it over.“Sit,” he mutters.

“I was going to make a piece of toast so I can take some pain medicine.”

That makes his scowl deepen, but he just nods to the chair.“I’ll make you some and get your pills.Sit.”

My hackles go up at the order, and I narrow my eyes at him, but before I can snap back, Holly is at my side with a plethora of permanent markers.

Storm puts a couple of slices of bread in the toaster, disappears from the room.

A minute later, he’s back with two bottles of pills in his hands.

“I—”

But he just opens the bottle of ibuprofen.

I clamp my lips closed.

“If the pain gets worse, we’ll talk about the others.”

“I’ll be fine,” I mutter.

“I said what I said.”He puts three tablets in front of me then turns away to deal with the bread that’s popped out of the toaster.Before I can tell him how I want it, he moves to the fridge and grabs the butter then turns to the spice rack and plucks out the cinnamon and sugar.

He slaps butter on the toast, tops it with the gloriousness of cinnamon and sugar.

Then he’s bringing the plate over.

“Whatcha think?”Holly exclaims.

I glance down and grin at the lopsided H-O-L-L-Y surrounded by swirls and stars and hearts.“I love it, baby.”

“Are you gonna sign too, Dad?”she asks, holding up the basket.

Storm jerks—and I do as well, neither of us used to her calling him that yet.

“Yeah, peanut-who’s-not-a-peanut,” he says after a moment.“I’m going to sign.”

“Why don’t you get changed out of your jammies?”I tell her.“You don’t want to be late for camp.”

A flicker of worry on her face, “Are you going to pick me up today?”

I nod.“I wouldn’t miss hearing about your day now, would I?”

“Promise?”

I tug gently at a lock of her hair.“Promise.”I lean in.“And if you’re extra good, I may even bring you to Scoops.”

The worry flashes away.

Her arms fly up.

“Scoops!”she hollers, sprinting down the hall.

I chuckle, call after her, “Don’t forget to wash your face and brush your teeth please!”

“I won’t!”