“Got ’em,” our firstborn replies. She grabs a piece of cinnamon toast from the counter, kisses me on the cheek, and heads to the garage. Gracie is fifteen now and growing up way too damn fast. She’s no longer a little girl; she’s becoming a woman, and I want to freeze time. I can still remember the day she was born. She was so tiny in my arms.
I look across the counter to our only son, Rhett Alexander Baxter the fourth, our second born. I watch as he kisses his mom’s cheek and gives her a hug. At thirteen, he’s already an inch taller than Saylor. He’s my namesake, well, the family’s namesake. We have a ton of pictures thanks to my mom and my wife of the four generations of Baxter men. When Gramps passed, our little man took it hard. He’d formed a tight bond with his great grandfather, as well as his grandfather.
My parents moved their brewery here to Tennessee shortly after Gracie was born. We combined the two businesses, adding on to the distillery. It worked well for us having the entire family close by. Saylor and my mom grew even closer. She never had much family, and I’m grateful mine embraced her.
“Mom, I can’t find my camp shirt,” our third born, Nora, says as she rushes into the kitchen.
“Nora June.” Saylor sighs. “I had it out for you on your dresser.”
“Oh.” She grins and races off up the stairs to her room.
“That girl is going to need to marry a man who’s organized,” Saylor says, smiling to herself and shaking her head.
“Hey. She’s ten. No marrying off my girls before they’re at least thirty.”
“Dad,” Gracie says with a groan.
“What about me?” Number Four, as we like to call him, speaks up.
My wife stops and gives me a look. You know the one that says I can’t be that dad who is overprotective of my girls, but lets my son, the only other man in this house, have more freedom. “I hope one day you find a woman as wonderful as your momma,” I say, deflecting.
“Good save, Whiskey.” Saylor laughs.
“Today’s the final day of day camp, right?” I ask my wife.
“Yeah. It’s been a long week.”
It has, but I’m glad she’s been occupied. It’s made my secret keeping much easier. The three older kids have been at a summer day camp all week. Lilah, our youngest, just turned six, so Saylor made a big deal out of mommy-daughter time this week since she was feeling left out. They went shopping, got their hair done, their nails. One day my mom and Molly went along as well. Jake and Molly’s boys, who are fourteen and eleven, have been at camp all week too.
“Where’s your sister?” Saylor asks our three oldest. She looks down at her wrist, checking the time.
“She was in her room,” Nora tells us.
“I’ll get her.” After taking the steps two at a time, I reach her room and see her face first on her princess bed. “Hey, Princess Lilah.” I take a seat on the edge of her mattress.
“Hi, Daddy” is her mumbled reply. She turns to face me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I want to go to camp.” She juts out her bottom lip, and she and I are both aware of what that does to me.
“Come here.” She climbs onto my lap. “I wish you could go, baby girl, but you’re not old enough.”
Tears well in her eyes. “I wanna be big.”
“That would break Daddy’s heart,” I say, rubbing my hand up her back. Her sniffles grow softer. “You’re my baby. I’m not ready for you to grow up.” I’m not sure if I’m saying the words for her or for me.
“But Gracie and Nora are big. And Bubby, he’s big.” She sniffs.
“I know. You are all growing up way too fast. It would make Daddy really happy if you could stay small just a little longer.”
“It’s not fair.” She cuddles into me. My heart melts. This little girl—all four of my kids actually—hold my heart in their hands. Just like their momma. Saylor changed my life for the better. With each new addition to our family, the love I had for her only grew stronger.
“I have a secret,” I tell her. I know I’m going to regret this, but I’ll do anything to keep her from being so sad. Besides, I’m not going to tell her the entire truth. I’ve worked too hard for this surprise to come off without a hitch.
“A surprise?” She lifts her head and wipes at her cheeks. “I like surprises.”
I smile. There’s my princess. “I know you do.” I kiss her nose. “Daddy and Mommy have an anniversary coming up. Do you know what that means?”