Page 37 of Bear’s House

"Don't you dare. I'm enjoying the peace," Daddy said. "And I think you all deserve a reward."

We looked at each other. This time even Sawyer paused his game. JJ put his phone away and gave Daddy his full attention.

"What kind of reward?" he asked.

"We're going out for dinner."

I cheered right where I sat, popping my pacifier out of my mouth.

"Yay!" I said.

"Yes, my love," Daddy said, laughing. "You deserve it. And I don't feel like cooking."

We laughed.

"Can we go to Olive Garden?" JJ asked. "I really, really want Olive Garden, please."

And then a miracle happened — because we almost always disagreed and argued about everything — Sawyer said:

"I want that too. I want pasta."

"Yay!" I said again.

Daddy looked genuinely surprised for a second.

"I think you've all been so good that you deserve another reward on top of that," he said. "Come here. Kneel in front of me."

All three of us got up and went to him, kneeling on the rug. I settled in the middle, JJ on one side and Sawyer on the other. Daddy looked at each of us with that warm, satisfied look that made me want to be good forever just to keep seeing that expression on his face.

He lowered his hand and stroked my hair first, then stroked JJ's, then Sawyer's.

"Daddy is very proud of you all today," he said. "You did your chores without complaining, you stayed quiet, you didn't fight. That's exactly what I expect from you, and when you give me that, it makes me very happy."

"We were very good," I agreed, pleased with myself.

"You were," he said, with a smile. "So before we go, each of you gets a few minutes with me. Okay?"

I nodded eagerly. I loved our individual moments with Daddy.

He called Sawyer first — probably because Sawyer was the oldest in the dynamic and always went first in these things. JJ and I stayed in the living room waiting. JJ went back to his phone, but I stayed with my toy kitchen, putting together an imaginary dinner to bring to Olive Garden as a starter course. It seemed reasonable.

When it was my turn, I went to Daddy's bedroom. He was sitting on the edge of the big bed and held his hand out when he saw me appear in the doorway.

"Come here, princess."

I went. I settled into his lap with my back against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around me and held me for a little while just like that, without saying anything. I felt small and safe and warm and let my head rest on his shoulder.

"You were a very good boy today, Mikey," he murmured near my ear.

"I know," I said, satisfied.

He laughed quietly.

"That's right. Be proud of yourself." He ran his hand through my hair. "How are you feeling, sweetheart? Has it been a good week?"

"Good," I said. "The bank was a bit boring but nothing too bad." I paused. "Daddy?"

"Yes?"