Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
I help her unpack for a while, and it’s late by the time I finally leave Fee’s room. I find Lexi and Callie cuddled up in her princess bed, both out cold. I carefully gather Lexi up and carry her down the hall to our room.
“I fell asleep in Callie’s bed, didn’t I?” She nuzzles into my neck, all warm and groggy.
“You did.” I pull the comforter back and set her down. Lexi lets me pull the covers over her.
“How’s Fee?” she mumbles.
“She’s okay. We talked it out. She was just overwhelmed.”
“Thank you for being there for her, for all of us.”
“I’d do anything for you and the girls.” I press my lips to her forehead. “I just need to brush my teeth. I’ll be right back.”
Two minutes later, I slide under the sheets next to her. She snuggles into me. “I love you,” she mumbles.
“I love you, too.” I press my lips to her temple and marvel at how much my life has changed and how I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
CHAPTER 43
ROMAN
“Can you pass me the syrup, please?” Fee asks.
“Absolutely. Whipped cream, too, right?” I pass her both.
“Oh, and the blueberries.” Fee reaches across the table for them. She’s in much better form this morning.
“Can I have more bacon?” Callie asks.
“Can I have more bacon, please?” Lexi adds another slice to her plate.
I set my knife and fork down. “Okay, now that we’re all here, Lexi and I wanted to let you know that we’re starting family therapy next week.”
Lexi and I discussed it this morning, and she agreed that it’s something the girls need. We all do. These girls are grieving the loss of their parents, and they need a sounding board who can help them deal with their feelings and all the changes they’re managing. And I need to learn not to overcompensate.
“Therapy?” Fee looks nervous.
“We’re an unconventional family, and we all need a safe place to talk about our feelings. We’ll see one therapist together, all four of us, and then if you girls want to talk to someone on your own, we can do that too,” Lexi explains.
“I’m sure Peggy’s therapist would be happy to take you girls on,” I add.
“Aurora’s in therapy?” Fee seems shocked.
“She has been since she was six. She started with art therapy and progressed. She goes every other month now, but for a while she went weekly.”
“Was there something wrong with her?” Callie asks.
“Nope. She just needed someone to talk to when she was having a hard time with her feelings and didn’t know what to do with them. I see one, too. I started going once a month this year because I’m retiring, and I have some feelings about that.” I want therapy to be normalized for them, like it is for Peggy.
“Okay. If Peggy can handle therapy so can I,” Fee says decisively.
“Can I try art therapy?” Callie asks.
“Sure. We can give that a shot.” Lexi squeezes my hand.
“Great. I’m glad we’re all on board.” I look to Lexi, and she smiles, giving me the go ahead. “Now that you girls are moved in, Lexi and I thought it would be a good idea if we came up with a list of house rules.”
“House rules?” Callie parrots.
“Yup. I think it’s important, now that we’re the Hammerstein-Forrester clan, that we have our own set of rules.”
“We get to help make them?” Fee asks skeptically.
“We’re a democracy, so we should all get a say,” Lexi confirms.
“Like if the dishwasher isn’t running, put your dishes in it instead of leaving them in the sink.” Fee gives her sister a look.
“Sometimes I’m in a hurry,” Callie says defensively, while grinning.
“The kitchen can have its own set of rules,” Lexi clarifies, “which are different from our family rules. So what are the things we want to make sure we always do or don’t do when it comes to respecting each other?”
“Never go to bed angry?” Fee asks.
“I love that one. Peggy and I had the same rule when she was growing up.” I write it at the top of the list.
“Okay, Callie, your turn,” Lexi says.
“Be kind and use kind words.”
“That’s a great one,” Lexi says.
“I didn’t make it up. It’s a rule in my class.” Callie drags her bacon through her maple syrup. I’m pretty sure she learned that from Peggy.
“Definitely a great class rule and house rule.” I add it to the list.
“Is it Lexi’s turn?” Callie asks.
“It sure is.” This feels good, like we’re part of a new team, working together to figure things out.
“Be accountable. That means when we do something wrong, we own our mistake and try not to do it again,” Lexi explains.
“It’s okay to make mistakes, though. We’re all human,” I add. “But when we say we’re sorry, we should always mean it.”
“Those are rules three and four, right?” Fee pops a blueberry into her mouth.