20 Questions

Chapter 144

Hunter

"So I told her that she could go back over to the swings because I don't need her drama. That's what she gets for dumping Everett. No, ma'am, not my best friend!"

I'm sitting at the kitchen table, watching the six-year-old version of Jenna. Her head is swaying with attitude, her little hands are on her hips and she's giving me the play-by-play on how she gave some girl on the school playground the business for dumping her best friend.

And did I mention that I am also laughing on the inside and enjoying the hell out of listening to this little showdown?

"Baby girl," I sigh. "I know that you're protective of Everett –"

"Oh no," she interrupts me, holding up her little hand to stop my rebuttal. "She doesn't deserve Evi. That hoe –"

"Janie Marie!" Jenna yells, storming into the kitchen to interrupt the name-calling while trying to pull her long blonde hair back into a ponytail. "We don't call people that."

"That's what you called Uncle Kevin's new girlfriend," the sassy little monster corrects her.

I press my lips together and stare wide-eyed back at my wife, trying to suppress my laughter and keep myself out of the doghouse. Jenna squints her eyes at me and shakes her head side to side, letting me know that not even a whisper of a laugh better pop out. She looks back down at her mini-me with indignation.

"I did not call Uncle Kevin's new girlfriend a hoe," Jenna argues.

With Janie looking away from me, I bob my head several times and mouth to Jenna, "Yes, you did." When our daughter looks back my direction, I stop my head motion and look back to Jenna. She's currently flipping me off. Jenna tries to convince her that she misunderstood, but much like her mother, Janie is relentless and adamant about what she heard.

"You did too! We were all in the pool on Saturday and his girlfriend had that pink bathing suit on that went all the way up her butt. You called her a –"

"Fine! I said what I said, but little girls aren't allowed to say those words. Now, go clean your room and get everything ready for the pool party. Do not repeat that word again and definitely don't repeat what I said in front of anybody else." Janie gives Jenna a pointed look, spins and trots off to her bedroom. "And quit calling girls hoes on the playground! If I get another call from your teacher saying you can't play nicely with other girls, I'm going to give you ten sisters!"

"Too late!" that feisty little voice booms. "I already told Everett not to date them because they are all hoes."

"I'm sending her back to the hospital," Jenna exhales harshly, looking at me, serious as a heart attack. "I swear to God, I think I gave birth to the Antichrist. There must have been a mix up at the hospital because there's no way she's mine."

I laugh and grab Jenna's face, looking deep into her big green eyes. "Hate to break it to you, beautiful, but that little girl is the smaller version of you. I mean, spitting image. Feistiness and all."

There is so much truth in my words. From the golden locks to the big green eyes and Lord, the abundance of sass. She is her mother's daughter, through and through. Jenna can deny it all she wants, but that little piece of my heart is Jenna replicated.

And I wouldn't have her any other way.

Then again, she may just be the reason for the gray hairs I have popping up everywhere. About that time, little footsteps pitter patter throughout the house and two little arms wrap tightly around the legs of my gorgeous wife. A gigantic smile covers her face as she reaches down to pick up our bouncing baby boy.