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She gasped. “I’m so tall!”
“Wanna go scare townspeople?”
“Yes!” she said. “Let’s scare everyone.”
“Oh, she’s got the instinct,” I heard Mollie say as I ran off.
“And she’s way too similar to them. Should we be worried?”
I was too far away to hear them. As I popped our faces into different windows, all I could hear was Beatrice’s cackles. Eventually, Agnes found us, demanding a turn as well. I alternated which girl was on my shoulders, slowly but surely ruining everyone else’s lives.
It was one of the best days I’d had in a while.
After about half an hour of messing with people, the girls were ready to go back and play on the playground. Mollie was still waiting with Wren, and I knew they’d been watching us the entire time.
“Wow, you entertained them,” Wren said.
“She did it with Agnes at the farm,” Mollie added.
I fell back onto the ground, rubbing my sore shoulders. “I probably pulled something for doing that, but at least I got back at Dale from making that rude comment in the Facebook group last month.” I eyed them both. “Now do you believe I like kids?”
“It’s not that we doubted you. You just never talked about them.”
“For the longest time, I thought it wouldn’t be an option.” My gaze landed on the girls playing. “My revolving door of terrible men squashed that dream pretty solidly. And I don’t want to talk about something I’m not sure is going to happen.”
“Did you always picture them with Gabriel?” Mollie asked.
“It’s way too early in the morning for a question like that.”
“Come on, at least help us understand.”
I sighed and knew I couldn’t lie to them. “Of course I did. But right before he left, he told me he never wanted kids.”
“He did? I bet you were pissed when you saw him with two.”
“I was, but I was also curious. I wanted to help with them, even when I was angry.”
“So knowing the past feels like you can give yourself permission,” Mollie said.
“Yeah. Even if the logic isn’t sound, I’m having fun.”
“You don’t have to do this, you know,” Wren said.
“I know. I want to.” I leaned forward. “I know I’m not their mother or anything, so I don’t need a lecture on that. I just want to help.”
“You’re kinder than he deserves,” Mollie said.
“Do you think he’ll take advantage of you?” Wren added.
I shook my head. “No, you guys should have seen his face this morning. He was so shocked to see me there. I have no doubt he’ll do something in return.”
“Tell us what it is. If he does start taking advantage of you, we’re stepping in.”
Gabriel wouldn’t, but I nodded anyway. This felt so different than last time, when it was just him and me. I had other friends backing me up now, and they could tell me if I was doing something even dumber than I already was.
“You guys are the best,” I said.
“We know. Reward us with siccing the girls on my enemies,” Mollie said.
