Page 27 of When Love Takes Root

Her eyes grew wide. “Water got air?”

“Tiny air,” I said with a smile.

She gasped and looked at Juice. “Daddy, water got tiny air.”

Juice nodded solemnly. “That’s why I drink juice.”

Melody swatted his arm. “Justice, baby, please.” She laughed.

“What?” Juice asked. “I’m teaching survival.”

Lyric looked back at me. “So fish need good water?”

“They do.”

She thought about that for a second, then nodded. “People too.”

The room grew still.

I rested my forearms on my knees. “You’re right, Songbird.”

Lyric smiled and tapped the book against my shoulder. “I know.”

Juice laughed. “She definitely got that confidence from me.”

“Absolutely not,” Melody said.

She glanced at the clock on the office wall. “We better let y’all get back to work.”

Lyric frowned. “Already?”

“You’ve got books to take to Nana,” Melody reminded her.

“And apple juice,” Juice added.

Lyric brightened immediately.

I laughed and lifted her down from my desk.

She wrapped her arms around my neck one more time before letting go.

“Bye, Uncle Siah!”

“See you soon, Songbird.”

She grinned, gathered her books, and reached for Melody’s hand.

Juice grabbed the tote before Melody could. “I got it.”

“I know you do,” Melody said with a smile.

“I can reach it.”

“I know. Humor your daddy.”

She sighed dramatically. “Okay.”

He kissed the top of her head, closed her door, then walked around to Melody.