Page 2 (1/2)

Hallie scra me to move to the middle to accommodate them both “Can we sleep in here?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No”

“Then I guess you can But go turn off the hall light first”

Hallie dutifully got out of bed, switched off the light, and hurried back under the covers

“And you have to actually sleep, okay? No talking,” I ordered

“Okay”

Stretching out onthe silence wouldn’t last Sure enough, not ten seconds went by before Luna spoke up

“Daddy, can we please ride in the truck today?”

“No”

“Why not?”

“Because there’s no tiuys can stay with Aunt Bree and your cousins while Uncle Justin and I get the big stuff moved in”

“What about after the big stuff is moved in?” Luna asked hopefully

“We’ll see Go to sleep”

It would have been easier toshook out this way, and I refused to give up any of my days with them My work schedule—twenty-four hours on and three days off—and the custody arrangeot the around

Naoe her client appointments at the salon based on es once the calendar was set for theto see thes she didn’t think I could handle, like Luna’s nut allergies or Hallie’s compulsive tendencies or any kind of scheduled appointments

“We’ll bring our stuff and stay the night in our new beds tonight, right?” Hallie pressed

“Yes” Frowning, I reht—eh school

If it was anyone else, I’d have blown it off, but I hadn’t seen Chip in several years, and he was only in town for one night He pitched for the White Sox, and ti the season was severely liirls to the party with ive et out fast Parties weren’t really

But I’d told Chip I’d be there, and I didn’t take htly

“Daddy?” Noas Hallie

“Hm”

“I ondering”

The girl was alondering She askedquestions than anyone I’d ever known and never accepted an answer she didn’t like

“It’s too early for wondering,” I told her “No wondering before six am That’s the rule”

“You can’t just turn off wondering, Daddy It’s not like a TV”