It’s right around the corner and will be here before I know it. If we don’t start planning it now, it’ll never get done.
“Can I have my friends over?”
“Sure. Now, will you tell me why you hit your sister?”
His eyes fall to the table, the defiant look from a few moments ago fading fast. “I didn’t mean to. She knocked over my Legos when she was reaching for her doll, and I accidentally whacked her with my elbow.”
I raise a brow. “Accidentally whacked her?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs. “It just happened.”
Yeah, right. The little shit probably did it on purpose, but I have to pick my battles, and right now I don’t have the energy to fight with him about this.
“You need to go apologize.”
Jack rolls his eyes, slides out of the chair, and sulks into the living room. I listen carefully for the apology, and then I walk down the hall and peek into Henry’s room to find him standing up in his crib. He’s gnawing on the top rail and holds his hands in the air when he sees me.
“Up.”
“Hey, sleepyhead. Did you have a good nap?” I pluck him out of the crib. His chubby arms wrap around my neck, and he rests his head on my shoulder. “Did Angela wear you out today?” I say.
Angela is the kids’ sitter, a retired kindergarten teacher. I hit the jackpot when I found her. With no kids or grandkids and a husband who’s still working, she was more than willing to take a job watching the kids for me.
She’s great with them, and they adore her, which is really all that matters.
“Daddy!” I wince at Emma’s ear-piercing scream. Henry seems completely unaffected. “Jack putted gum in my hair.”
“It was an accident!” Jack argues.
I grit my teeth and walk into the living room. “Jack.”
“I said it was an accident. It just fell outta my mouth.”
This kid is a pain in my ass. I pray for patience—something I seem to have less and less of these days.
“You’re telling me your gum accidentally fell out of your mouth and happened to land in Emma’s hair?”
“Yep.”
“Here. Take your brother.” He grumbles, but takes Henry while I squat down to inspect Emma’s hair. Sure enough, there’s a large pink blob nestled there. “I think I can get it.”
I reach for the sticky goo, but it doesn’t come loose, and Emma screams. She slaps a hand to her hair, covering the pink mess. “Dat hurt.”
“Sweetie, I’ve got to get the gum out.”
“You could just cut all of her hair off,” Jack suggests with an ornery grin.
Emma’s eyes grow round. “No!”
“I’m not going to cut your hair.” Unless I have to.
“Why not? It’ll probably look better than it does now.”
“Jack Andrew, go to your room
.”
“Fine.” He puts Henry down beside me and walks away as if he’s glad I’m sending him.