Chapter 32

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BRIELLE

“Haha, I got you!” 

Jace does an amazing acting job as he falls to the ground holding his chest. I raise my hands in victory, but it is short-lived. I feel the pop on my back and I turn around to see my sweet Deacon holding the bright blue dart gun at me with a huge grin on his face.

“Got you, Auntie BB!” He teases.

“My boy, I thought we were a team. How could you do this to me?” I fall to my knees and reach out to him. “I loved you, I taught you everything you know about battle. How could you? How could you do this?”

“Deacon Alexander is no backstabber!” He declares. “Alexander brothers for life!”

I make one final fall to the ground and both boys playfully jump on me in a fit of laughter. I roll over onto my back and try to tickle them to get them off of me, but it is a losing fight being two against one. “You do a good job dying, Auntie BB.”

“Well thank you, Jace, I have been studying fake death my entire life. I am glad somebody finally realizes my efforts.”

“You’re silly!”

“You think so?” Both boys nod their heads. “Well why don’t the two of you help me up and I’ll go get the bath started.”

“We don’t take baths anymore,” Jace lets me know, “Mommy said we’re big enough for showers.”

“Okay, I can start the shower then.”

The boys help me up, well they don’t really help, in fact, it was harder with their “help” than without. I start the shower in their hall bathroom and help Deacon take his shower first. While I’m helping him into his pajamas, Jace gets in the shower. Since turning 7, Jace has wanted privacy for things like the bathroom and shower. I still have him keep the door open when he showers, just in case.

“Why don’t you go fill up your water bottle and then I will get you tucked into bed?” I direct Deacon.

“Are you going to spend the whole night here, Auntie BB?”

“Yeah, I think so. Your mom doesn’t know what time she’ll be back, so I’m just going to sleep on the couch.”

“Won’t Uncle Mitch get scared if you’re not there?” I kiss Deacon on the top of the head and pat him on the bottom to send him on his way into the kitchen. 

“I think he’ll be okay. He’s a big boy.”

While Deacon fills his water, I go in to check on Jace who is already in his pajamas and in bed reading his book. “What are you reading there, little man?”

“Dogman,” he shows me the cover. “It is about a dog that is a superhero.”

“That sounds pretty cool. Is that a comic book?”

“Yeah. My teacher says that comic books and graphic novels are just as good as regular chapter books.”

“She’s right! Reading is reading and all reading is important. Do you need any water?”

“No, my bottle is still full.”

“Awesome. I’m going to set your timer, can I trust that you’ll turn the lights off and go to bed after it goes off?”

“Promise,” he grins. I have a feeling he’ll forget once his alarm goes off, but I guess there are worse things than staying up to read a book.

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