Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65944 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Watching the two of them together, a sense of contentment like I’ve never felt before fills me. It’s always been easy for me to date and find women to spend time with, but none of them were women I could imagine bringing into my daughter’s life. Even as nice as they were, they were all missing something. Qualities I didn’t even know I was looking for until I found them in Aria, from her quiet strength, to her vulnerability and resilience. Everything that makes her, are traits I’ve come to admire and appreciate more than she even knows.
“Dad, are you coming?” Olivia yells, and I snap out of my thoughts and focus on her and Aria. I find them trying to figure out how they will get into the canoe.
“Yeah.” I jog toward them, and then order, “Get in, you two.” Once they sit as I hold it steady, I take my seat and untie the rope that is tethered to the dock and use the paddle to push us out into the water. As I take us around the small lake, both girls point out different birds, and fish when they jump, and Aria takes a million pictures of Olivia and the trees that have changed from green to varying shades of gold.
When we are safely back on solid ground, we find a grassy area, and I toss out one of the painting blankets I keep in the back of my truck. Aria unpacks the lunch she and Olivia made, which includes hot chocolate, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips, veggies, and hummus. As we eat, I know I could get used to days like this, with both my girls.
“Grandma was asking what you want to dress up as for Halloween this year,” I say, grabbing a handful of chips, and Olivia looks at Aria.
“Are you going to go trick-or-treating with us?”
“I am,” she says, then adds, “if that’s okay with you.”
“It’s fine.” She shrugs like it’s not a big deal, then asks, “Do you want to be Elsa or Anna?”
“Umm.” Aria looks at me with confusion clear as day in her eyes.
“Elsa and Anna are characters from Frozen. They’re sisters,” I explain.
“Oh.” Aria shrugs. “Who do you want to be?”
“Either. They are both totally awesome. Haven’t you watched Frozen before?” she asks, and Aria shakes her head. “Really?” Olivia sounds outraged.
“Really.” Aria tips her head to the side, smiling down at her when she falls to her back.
“What about Frozen 2?”
“I haven’t seen either of them.” Aria laughs as Olivia looks at me with her nose scrunched.
“Can we watch both of them tonight, Daddy?”
“Sure,” I agree, and she gets up and climbs into my lap, wrapping her arms around my shoulders for a tight hug before she looks over at Aria.
“Tonight after we watch the movies, you can decide who you want to be.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Aria smiles at her, and she nods before she turns her body so that her face is in mine.
“Do you want to be Kristoff or Olaf, Daddy?”
“I’ll be whoever you want me to be.” I lean in and kiss the tip of her nose, watching as she grins.
“Who are Kristoff and Olaf?” Aria asks, and Olivia spins around to face her.
“Kristoff is Anna’s boyfriend, and Olaf is a snowman that comes to life. He’s super funny. You’re going to love him. My mom does.” She gets up and starts to sing one of his songs as she spins in circles.
As I watch her, laughing, I feel Aria’s eyes on me, and I focus on her. My chest warms at the soft look on her face. “What?” I ask quietly, and she shakes her head.
“Nothing, just thinking you’re a great dad.”
Fuck, hearing her say that with that look on her face, I gotta fight the urge to tackle her to the grass and kiss her senseless. “What do you say we pack up and head to town to get pizza and movie supplies?” I suggest, and when both girls agree, we pack up the picnic.
Aria and I get the canoe loaded up in the back of my truck, then we head into town. We stop at the grocery store to pick up a couple of frozen pizzas and snacks, which include enough junk food for a family of ten. We spend the rest of the night stuffing our faces and laughing our asses off. By the time we tuck Olivia into bed, she’s come to the conclusion that Aria should be Elsa, she should be Anna, and I should be Kristoff, so we make plans for the next morning to go shopping for our costumes. And not surprisingly, Aria is even more excited than Olivia to dress up for Halloween.
Chapter 15
Aria
“MORNING, BABY,” TIDE whispers against my ear as the scent of fresh coffee drifts toward me, and I blink my eyes open, finding him leaning over me.