Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 34451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Yep. Outrageous.
Brody sat upright, looking as alarmed as Autumn felt. “Papa, you can’t do that.”
“Why not? It’s the perfect solution.”
“Daddy, you can’t kidnap someone,” Autumn told him, sitting up to face the Fox. “Not even Sunny.”
“Why not? I’m good at it.”
“It’s not that. It’s not right. Sunny wouldn’t be happy if you did that,” Brody said. “Neither she nor Duke would trust you again.”
The Fox frowned. “Really?”
“Trust us, Daddy,” Autumn told him, placing her hand on his chest. “Friends don’t kidnap other friends.” Good Lord. That was not something she thought she would ever say.
“You don’t want to upset Sunny, right?” Brody said. “That would scare her.”
“No.” The Fox frowned. “I wouldn’t ever want to upset Sunny. Fine, if you really think I shouldn’t, I won’t.”
They all settled back in, but for some reason, Autumn felt unsettled. And it finally occurred to her that the Fox didn’t actually want to give them a family holiday . . . oh, that was what he told himself.
But she was sure that what he really wanted was to have that himself. He’d watched all those Christmas romantic movies with her, and he’d seen the family meals and holidays.
He just wanted what he had never had.
And somehow, Autumn needed to give that to him.
13
FOX, PUP, AND BUNNY
“That’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard.” Brody reached up to fiddle with his glasses.
The two of them were currently sitting on the living room floor, trying to create a macaroni collage.
But it was more complicated than it looked.
Well, at least or Brody anyway.
He could do anything when it came to computers, but somehow, he couldn’t glue some darn macaroni onto a piece of paper without getting glue all over his hands, on his face, and even up his left nostril.
Yeah, don’t ask.
“We can’t do that, Tutu.”
Autumn painted some more pieces of pasta to add to her masterpiece. She’d created a picture of Rudolph, and her artwork was awesome. While Brody . . . had a lump of colorful macaroni and glue.
“All I’m saying is that we call her and ask. I found a cabin that’s available just before Christmas. We could go have a look at it. And then call Daddy and Duke to come see. Maybe it will convince them. It would give Daddy the family holiday he’s never had. We could even ask Markovich, Dahlia, Reyes, and Emme too.”
The Fox had been spending some time with Markovich and Emme. Emme and Autumn had even had a couple of playdates. But things were moving slowly between them.
“I think they’re all going away together over the holidays.” Brody let out a sigh. “And Duke will never agree.”
Autumn pouted. “That’s not fair. Poor Daddy. He just wants to know what it feels like to go on a family holiday.”
Yeah, Brody had thought the same thing after last night’s conversation.
“Think about it, a cozy log cabin, the fire roaring, board games, and hot chocolate. Snow falling. It would be fun.”
Brody sighed. “I’ll call her. But you are aware that our butts will be toast for this, right?”
Autumn smiled at him, looking unconcerned. She would since she wasn’t the one who was sitting very uncomfortably today.
“And you’ll have to distract the lord and master. He’s being very . . . attentive today.”
This was the first time he’d given them time to themselves all day. Earlier, Brody had to talk the Fox out of calling Ink so he could do it himself. Ink had told him, rather sternly, that he better not come into the office for at least three days or he was going to be in trouble.
Right.
Today, as soon as they’d gotten up, the Fox had dressed them both before making them waffles. Then they’d baked cookies while listening to Christmas music. It was early afternoon now, and they’d sat down to attempt some arts and crafts. But in his case, it was a lousy attempt.
“I can do that.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. Then he tugged.
“Ouch! Crap!”
“What’s wrong?” the Fox raced into the room and came over to Brody, studying him urgently. “Have you hurt yourself? That’s it, I am getting us a permanent doctor.”
“Papa, I don’t need a doctor,” Brody said quickly.
“I think Brody-bear glued his fingers to his hair, Daddy,” Autumn told the Fox.
“I didn’t . . . did I?” Shoot. Maybe he had. He tugged harder and ripped out half his hair as he got his hand free. “Ouch. That freaking hurt. I’m just no good at this.” He smacked his hand down, then when he raised his hand, the picture was stuck to his hand.
Tutu giggled as he sighed.
“Well, I’m sure it was an excellent picture, before it was squashed,” the Fox said, moving forward to remove his hand from the picture.
“It wasn’t, Papa. It was crap.”
“Nothing you did could be crap, Brody-bear,” Autumn told him.