Love Like Her (Against All Odds #3) - Claudia Y. Burgoa Page 0,73
say yes, didn’t you?” I tease her, cleaning some crumbs from Nova’s face. “If you don’t mind me taking her to run my own errands. We’re visiting Liv.”
“Can you bring her home at dinner time?”
“Liv or Nova?” I cock an eyebrow.
She frowns. “You want to drag that poor woman into the Brassard chaos before she says I do?”
“I’ve told her all about you people.”
“I noticed last night.” She kisses Nova’s cheek. “Make sure Uncle Eros behaves, okay.”
“Where’s Nate?”
“He’s at the house measuring the guest room. We’re converting it into a nursery.”
“Where are you having the baby?”
“Here, in Denver,” she answers. “It’ll be easier for everyone. Nova can have a slumber party with Leah while I’m in the hospital.”
“We should pick up Leah and have some Sunday fun,” I suggest to Nova. “It’s been too long since the last time I spent a day with my favorite girls. What do you think? Should we go for Leah?”
Nova claps excitedly. “Leah!”
“Okay, ladies, remember what I told you.” Nova and Leah nod.
I ring the doorbell, pick them up, and make sure they’re the ones facing the peephole. The door opens, and Liv smiles at the girls. “Well, this is a surprise. Are you a flower girl or a delivery girl?”
Nova turns to look at me. “Am buderfly.”
“She’s a butterfly delivering flowers,” I announce.
“Oh, that makes more sense.”
“Who are you?” she asks Leah, tapping her chin. “Are you Leah?”
Leah smiles and nods her head. She shows her the gift bag. “Viz are tookies. I wan one, peas?”
“Liv, these are my favorite girls, Nova and Leah. We came to visit you,” I say. “Girls, say hi to Liv.”
“Hi,” they greet her in unison. They grin at her. These two are so adorable, no one can say no to them.
Liv stares at me and opens the door wide. “This is low, even for you.”
I shrug. “You always said you wanted to meet them. Well, here’s your chance.”
We help them take off their winter gear. The only problem with having both of them with me is that I have to carry two diaper bags with everything that my sisters think they need.
“Now that we’re settled, why don’t you follow me to the kitchen,” Liv says. “If we’re going to have cookies, we need plates and maybe some lemonade or milk to go with them.”
“Fowers need wader,” Nova reminds us, grabbing the flowers from the bench where they sat while we helped them with their boots, mittens, and coats.
Liv squats and takes the flowers. “You’re right. First, we have to find a vase for them. Would you like to help me?”
She grabs Nova’s hand.
Leah and I head to the kitchen. I find plastic cups, grab some plates, and take the milk out of the fridge. Leah and I pour the milk carefully. Nova and Liv are arranging the flowers as they count them.
“The cookies are ready.”
“Why don’t you sit down while I bring something for you guys,” Liv suggests. When she comes back, she gives a coloring book and a box of crayons to each one of them.
“Were you expecting them?”
She shakes her head. “No. After a few weeks working as an event planner, I learned that some clients bring their kids. I have juice, clay, crayons… everything to entertain them while we are working.”
“Smart.”
“It’s just a little thing, but it makes it less stressful for the kids.”
Liv spends time coloring with my nieces while she talks to them. Nova tells her about Brock, her dog. I show Liv pictures of Brock and Nova. Then Leah asks me to show her pictures of Simon, her kitty. Simon is an asshole, except with Leah. He adores his human so much. The cat is always taking care of her.
At lunchtime, we prepare grilled cheese sandwiches. Liv cuts apples into cubes for them to eat.
“They are adorable,” she whispers as we set them in her guest room to take a nap. I put the mattress on the floor so they don’t fall down. “I wish it wasn’t so cold. They’d enjoy the backyard.”
“Thank you for receiving us.”
She looks at me. “I always wanted to meet them. They adore you. You’re seriously the best uncle in the world.”
“That’s one of the best compliments I’ve received in my life,” I say, shyly. “So, can we talk about us?”
Liv chews her bottom lip. “What is there to talk about, Eros? I’m leaving in a few months. You have a life. A family that loves you. I’m still—”