Chapter 22
RHETT
(Six years later…)
I’m watching Frozen for the hundredth time with Danny tucked into my side. She’s rubbing a piece of my shirt caught between her thumb and forefinger, her eyes glued to the screen.
When the movie gets close to our part, she scrambles to her knees and wildly slaps at my chest.
“Get ready, Uncle Ledge!”
I watch her take a deep breath, and I start to sing along with her on the soundtrack. I watch her little face as she concentrates on getting the words right.
Her voice gets stronger as we near the chorus, and she squeals with laughter as I scoop her into my arms and dart up from the couch. I spin us around the living room as we both shout at the tops of our lungs, “Let it go. Let it go. Can’t hold it back anymore.”
By the time the song is finished, I’m out of breath. I fall back on the couch, and Danny snuggles into my side again.
We continue to watch the movie as if we didn’t dance and shout like a couple of crazy people just a few seconds ago.
As the credits start to roll, Danny looks up at me. “When are you going to find your Elsa, Uncle Ledge?”
I’m not about to ruin Danny’s little romantic heart, so I say, “I’ve already found my Anna, but right now she’s having an adventure.”
Danny claps her hands. “Oh, you like Elsa’s sister. Ooooh. I can’t wait until she’s back and she can tell me all about it.”
The smile fades from my face, and I whisper, “You and me both, Princess.”
I told Danny I found my Anna because the character reminds me more of Evie than Elsa does. It was the easiest way I could think of to explain it to Danny.
I sit and watch as Danny falls asleep before I slowly get up and cover her with the Little Mermaid blanket lying over the back of the couch.
On my way to join the gang where they’re barbecuing, I grab a beer from the fridge. I pop the cap off and take a sip as I step outside.
“Did she finally fall asleep?” Della asks, looking tired as hell where she’s sitting with Christopher sleeping on her lap. His one leg is up against her chest.
“Let me take him so you can have a breather,” I say, setting down my beer and picking up my godson.
“I swear, if it weren’t for you, I’d be crazy by now,” Della says a she gets up and stretches out. She presses a kiss to my cheek and walks towards the house.
“Della, where are you going?” Carter yells from where he’s standing by the barbeque with Jaxson, Marcus, and Ryan.
“I’m going to go pee before my bladder explodes,” she yells back at him.
“Please grab me a beer on the way back.”
Della glares at him before she disappears inside the house. I take a seat by Miss Sebastian, Mia, Willow, and Leigh.
“She wouldn’t let me take Christopher,” Miss Sebastian whispers to me. “She was waiting for you to come outside.”
The smile on Miss Sebastian’s face tells me she’s not upset about it, but instead proud of me.
“If I could have kids, I’d only trust you with them as well. I don’t blame her.”
As Della comes back outside, I smile when I see the beer in her hand. She waves it in the air. “Come fetch your drink.”
Carter comes over, but instead of going to Della, he heads in my direction.
“How’s my little-man doing?”