page66 (1/2)

My eyebrows shoot up so high and fast that Hannah laughs

“Relax,” she croons with a jab to et swept up by their true love and getis, but she’s a sure it out”

I lean over and give her a kiss on her neck “So we’ll definitely play it cool”

“No hot kissing or heavy petting in her presence,” she says with a glitter in her eyes

“I’ll follow your lead,” I mutter dryly

“Welcole mom’”

“I’e,” I warn

She gives lad”

Grabbing her e room where she breaks it down and lays it on a pile of flattened cardboard we’d started

“I’o look for the box that has all the sheets so I canto be time for Hope’s bedtime soon”

I nod “Go I can finish the kitchen And maybe after Hope falls asleep, we can fool around?”

“Daht ill,” she replies tartly, then blowsdown the hall

I finish the box of dishes and h when Hope coht I took her and her nificantly, fueled by theand tons of candy

But today, it’s kind of starting over again, and we’ve never talked by ourselves Frankly, I’m a bit terrified because if the kid hates h about her as ato work out between me and Hannah

I’ve figured it out these last feeeks, and I absolutely want to see where this goes with her

I decide to face the situation Try to develop a rapport with her child “Need any help with the iPad?” I ask Hope as she walks to the fridge and opens it

“No,” she says in a lilting voice “Mom won’t let me buy stuff on there”

That conversation falls flat But because I’ht into the deep end, plus flexing the power of money, I decide to take the same tact with Hope

“What are soht like to do?” I ask “Maybe I can take you and your mom somewhere next weekend”