Page 24 of Wrecked By You
Suddenly, the door to a black SUV opened and I heard, “Dad!”
I looked over and then two towheaded blond boys were running toward him. They weren’t very big boys. One was wearing little cowboy boots, jeans, a flannel shirt, and a cowboy hat. The other wore a similar outfit, but with tennis shoes instead of the boots.
Damon bent and picked both of them up, saying, “Who is ready for the carnival?”
They both screamed, “Me!”
My heart softened. He was a good dad.
The SUV’s driver’s side door opened, and I saw Nora Armstrong heading my way. “Isla!” She had her arms open.
I hugged her back. “Hey. Good to see you again.”
She pulled back, smiled, and then gestured to the boys. “You’re brave to go to the carnival with these guys.”
Damon moved forward, still holding one of them. “Yes, she is.” He ruffled the boy’s hair. “This is Trent.”
The little boy put his hand out so officially. “Nice to meet you.”
I grinned at him and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Isla.”
“My grandma told me,” he said, all matter-of-fact.
The other boy said, “I’m Jason. I’m the older brother. I’m the boss.”
I had to laugh as I shook his hand. “That’s good to know. Because older brothers are important. I know your dad’s older brother, Noah. He’s definitely the boss.”
Damon rolled his eyes. “Noah is not the boss.”
I just laughed at that.
Nora kissed each of the boys’ heads and then kissed Damon’s cheek. “I’m going to head back. I’m not sure your dad and I are going, but we might see you guys there.”
Both boys said, “Bye, Grandma.”
Damon waved. “Thanks, Mom, for everything.”
She got in the car and waved as she took off.
Damon gestured to his SUV. “Shall we go?”
The boys rushed to the car. “Yeah! The carnival!”
The older one, Jason, got in by himself, but Damon helped Trent up on the other side and got him buckled. Then he opened the passenger side door for me. “You ready?”
It was surreal how good this felt to be with him and the boys. “I’m ready.”
I got in the car, and we took off. The fair was only ten minutes away, and we listened to pop songs the boys called out. Damon would reluctantly put on the next one, and finally we settled for a country music station.
The whole situation made me laugh. Seeing Damon with his boys was priceless.
We parked. The boys were very excited.
Jason pointed to the Ferris wheel. “Dad. Can we go there first?”
Trent ran around in his boots and pointed to the cotton candy place. “Can we eat that?”
Damon gestured for them to stay by him. “We have to pay to get in. I will buy some tickets to do some rides. Maybe we’ll get a hot dog first. I’m kinda hungry. Anyone else hungry?”