Page 64 of One Hot Daddy

The drive back to Millbrook Valley passes in a blur of prairie landscapes and sleepy children.Even Jennifer dozes against my shoulder for most of the journey, her hand resting on my thigh in that casual way married couples often develop.I steal glances at her while she sleeps, still amazed that this incredible woman chose me---chose us.

"Dad," Henry pipes up from the back seat, "when we get home, can we put all our pictures in a scrapbook?"

"That's a brilliant idea, champ."I catch his eager face in the rearview mirror."We'll make a proper family album."

"I want to write captions for everything," Charlotte adds."Like 'The Day Dad Conquered Wall Drug' and 'Henry Versus the Mechanical Dinosaur.'"

Even Josh tears himself away from his book."We should include geological data about the rock formations we saw."

"What a clever idea."

We keep to the schedule I had suggested and arrive home by twelve forty-five.Before we can return to our house, though, first we need to drop off the grandparents as well as Jennifer's parents.Larry and Joanne opted to take a room at my hotel.Well, the hotel where I'm general manager.I don't own the place.

Finally, our little family pulls into the drive.Henry has already fallen asleep, so I carry him into the house and into the bedroom he shares with Josh.

Amelia yawns."NGL I'm zonked."

I raise a brow."And that means..."

"Not gonna lie.I'm really tired."

"You could take a nap, love."

Her jaw drops, and she stops blinking."At two in the afternoon?I'm not super old like you and Jennifer."

I pretend to clutch my chest."You wound me, my child."

She shakes her head."Old people are sooo weird."

Despite her horror at my suggestion, Amelia does doze off on the sofa---beside Charlotte.Josh crashes on the floor.

After their respective naps, we eat an early dinner.And finally, the house is quiet again.Jennifer and I go to sleep not long after.But in the morning, we're all rejuvenated.Breakfast chatter centers on our fantastic vacation.I sip my coffee and watch as my children chatter excitedly about their favorite parts of the trip.Henry's animated description of the mechanical T-Rex has everyone laughing, his little hands mimicking the dinosaur's jerky movements.

Josh sidles up beside Charlotte."Remember when Dad almost got pooped on by that bird at Mount Rushmore?"

Charlotte nearly spits out her orange juice."Yuck!Boys are so gross."

"It wasn't 'almost,' Charlotte," I correct her with mock seriousness."That blasted bird had perfect aim.Thank goodness for baseball caps."

As the laughter of six children and two adults fills the air, I realize I'm more contented than ever before.I claim Jennifer's winking at her furtively.She kisses my cheek.

The doorbell rings.Who on earth could that be?

"I'll get that."I push my chair back and rush to open the door.My jaw drops."Claudia?What in the world are you doing here?"

"Visiting my children.What else?"

Chapter Thirty

Jennifer

I'm pretty sure my mouth is hanging wide open, far enough that a small squirrel could crawl in there.Did Fletcher just call that woman Claudia?As in his ex-wife?The one who ditched him for an Australian yoga instructor?And she moved to kangaroo-land with him?If I think any more question marks in my mind, my head might explode.I stare blankly at Claudia and her designer duds, while Fletcher seems to have lost the ability to speak or even close his mouth.

I put on my best cheerful smile, hoping to defuse this puzzling situation.Then I aim a subtler smile at the kids."Why don't you guys go to your rooms and play, all right?The adults need to have a little chat."

The children exchange curious glances but obey.

Once they're out of earshot, I clasp Fletcher's hand while pulling him aside so I can shut the door for our two guests.