typical kids.”
“Don’t I know it!” Shanna grinned. “And to think Henry was this shy, studious little boy when I first became his stepmother. Now that my ex has allowed Kevin and me to adopt him, Henry’s suddenly blossoming into a wild child. It would be wonderful to see, if it weren’t so exhausting.”
“You and Kevin are responsible for the transformation,” Susie said. “Having a sick, alcoholic dad for so long had that poor child tiptoeing around in fear of doing anything to upset his father.”
“True enough,” Shanna said. “Of course, Davy didn’t come into my life with any baggage. His mom died when he was just a baby, and Kevin was always an amazing father. Plus he was surrounded by all those O’Briens. He’s just a rambunctious little kid, exactly the way he’s supposed to be. Funny how I thought Henry would be a quieting influence on him, but instead it’s been just the opposite.”
She studied Susie. “So, do you want to join us for dinner? It might actually be a quiet meal, if Kevin’s managed to get the boys bathed and in bed by the time I get home.”
Susie regarded her with humor. “So that’s why you hang around here after hours, so your husband will settle your children down for the night.”
Shanna laughed. “Guilty. Bedtime stories are my favorite part of the day. All the rest—getting soaked to the skin during their baths, fighting with them about going to bed—not so much.”
“I wouldn’t mind reading a bedtime story tonight,” Susie confessed. “Would that be okay?”
“It’s a deal. You do that, and I’ll make us something spectacular for dinner.” Her gaze narrowed. “Or would you rather stay here and talk? Is there something on your mind? Are you really after a sounding board, rather than a distraction?”
“No, this is nothing that a good distraction won’t cure,” Susie insisted. “As long as you’re sure I’m not imposing.”
“Friends can’t possibly impose,” Shanna assured her, then impulsively gave her a hug.
“What was that for?” Susie asked.
“You looked like you needed it. I’ve learned to read the signs.”
“Thanks,” Susie said, smiling. “I really did.”
Even without saying a single word about her problems, the burden suddenly felt a thousand percent lighter.
Davy streaked naked through the foyer as Susie and Shanna arrived at Shanna’s house.
“Get back up those stairs right this second,” Shanna ordered, trying unsuccessfully to hide her laughter. She turned to Susie. “Told you it might be a little wild around here.”
“I’m drying off,” Davy claimed as he raced past again.
Shanna closed her eyes. “Heaven help me,” she murmured, then shouted up the stairs, “Kevin, your son is down here naked in front of company!”
Kevin peered over the railing. “It’s Susie, not company. I’m sure she’s seen naked kids before.” Even so, he managed a stern look for Davy. “Up here, now!”
Davy flew up the stairs, giving Susie and Shanna an irrepressible grin as he went.
“Are you sure you want any part of reading bedtime stories tonight?” Shanna asked. “If I were you, I’d run for the hills.”
“Nope, I’m still game,” Susie said, then followed Shanna up the stairs.
Though the house had rooms for both the boys, Henry had been so intrigued by the prospect of having a little brother and Davy so adoring of his new big brother, they’d insisted on sharing the larger bedroom for now.
“Okay, you two,” Shanna announced after kissing them both and reserving a longer kiss for her husband, “I’ve recruited new talent for storytime.”
Davy, now clad in SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas, bounced on his bed. “Yay! I have a book all picked out. It’s about trucks.”
Henry groaned. “You want that book every night. I thought it was my turn to pick. I want the next chapter about Percy Jackson.”
Davy shrugged. “Okay,” he said readily. “But I get the truck book tomorrow
“Don’t I know it!” Shanna grinned. “And to think Henry was this shy, studious little boy when I first became his stepmother. Now that my ex has allowed Kevin and me to adopt him, Henry’s suddenly blossoming into a wild child. It would be wonderful to see, if it weren’t so exhausting.”
“You and Kevin are responsible for the transformation,” Susie said. “Having a sick, alcoholic dad for so long had that poor child tiptoeing around in fear of doing anything to upset his father.”
“True enough,” Shanna said. “Of course, Davy didn’t come into my life with any baggage. His mom died when he was just a baby, and Kevin was always an amazing father. Plus he was surrounded by all those O’Briens. He’s just a rambunctious little kid, exactly the way he’s supposed to be. Funny how I thought Henry would be a quieting influence on him, but instead it’s been just the opposite.”
She studied Susie. “So, do you want to join us for dinner? It might actually be a quiet meal, if Kevin’s managed to get the boys bathed and in bed by the time I get home.”
Susie regarded her with humor. “So that’s why you hang around here after hours, so your husband will settle your children down for the night.”
Shanna laughed. “Guilty. Bedtime stories are my favorite part of the day. All the rest—getting soaked to the skin during their baths, fighting with them about going to bed—not so much.”
“I wouldn’t mind reading a bedtime story tonight,” Susie confessed. “Would that be okay?”
“It’s a deal. You do that, and I’ll make us something spectacular for dinner.” Her gaze narrowed. “Or would you rather stay here and talk? Is there something on your mind? Are you really after a sounding board, rather than a distraction?”
“No, this is nothing that a good distraction won’t cure,” Susie insisted. “As long as you’re sure I’m not imposing.”
“Friends can’t possibly impose,” Shanna assured her, then impulsively gave her a hug.
“What was that for?” Susie asked.
“You looked like you needed it. I’ve learned to read the signs.”
“Thanks,” Susie said, smiling. “I really did.”
Even without saying a single word about her problems, the burden suddenly felt a thousand percent lighter.
Davy streaked naked through the foyer as Susie and Shanna arrived at Shanna’s house.
“Get back up those stairs right this second,” Shanna ordered, trying unsuccessfully to hide her laughter. She turned to Susie. “Told you it might be a little wild around here.”
“I’m drying off,” Davy claimed as he raced past again.
Shanna closed her eyes. “Heaven help me,” she murmured, then shouted up the stairs, “Kevin, your son is down here naked in front of company!”
Kevin peered over the railing. “It’s Susie, not company. I’m sure she’s seen naked kids before.” Even so, he managed a stern look for Davy. “Up here, now!”
Davy flew up the stairs, giving Susie and Shanna an irrepressible grin as he went.
“Are you sure you want any part of reading bedtime stories tonight?” Shanna asked. “If I were you, I’d run for the hills.”
“Nope, I’m still game,” Susie said, then followed Shanna up the stairs.
Though the house had rooms for both the boys, Henry had been so intrigued by the prospect of having a little brother and Davy so adoring of his new big brother, they’d insisted on sharing the larger bedroom for now.
“Okay, you two,” Shanna announced after kissing them both and reserving a longer kiss for her husband, “I’ve recruited new talent for storytime.”
Davy, now clad in SpongeBob SquarePants pajamas, bounced on his bed. “Yay! I have a book all picked out. It’s about trucks.”
Henry groaned. “You want that book every night. I thought it was my turn to pick. I want the next chapter about Percy Jackson.”
Davy shrugged. “Okay,” he said readily. “But I get the truck book tomorrow
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