Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Once Henry was driving smoothly, Cooper let Wayne and Jared each have a turn riding shotgun, soaking up the thrill. With Cooper leading the pack, the backyard echoed with the kids' laughter. Even Jared-usually the quiet, serious one-was grinning from ear to ear.

Aimee stood at the window, watching them. "Mrs. Cedillo, does your brother need some cash?"

"For what?"

"I'm thinking of hiring him to teach my son. Name your price."

After hanging out at the Irvin house for a while and with Henry's new toy staying put-they got ready to head out. Mia said, "When your brother-in-law gets here, he can pick it up and take it home."

So off they went again.

Henry, of course, didn't want to leave. He was about two seconds away from throwing himself on the ground in protest, but after a few well-placed pats from his mom, he gave up and let himself be carried to the car with only a sulky look.

That night, three women, three kids, and three strollers meandered through the night market.

Henry didn't want to sit in his stroller-he had legs, didn't he? He wanted to walk. But his mom wasn't about to let him run wild, so she struck a deal. "If you sit nicely, I'll buy you a fruit tea. If you agree, shake on it. If you don't, I'll keep spanking until you do."

Henry leaned on the stroller bar, bright eyes blinking as he thought it over. He remembered something about "spankings" in the negotiation. Seeing his mom's outstretched hand, he wisely reached up his tiny paw and shook on it, grinning.

"Deal."

So there he was, happily pushed along, clutching his fruit tea with both hands- even though his hands were too small for the cup. He lounged in his stroller like a little king, legs swinging, completely content.

They found a food stall selling

stir-fried noodles and sat down. Just as Aimee took her first bite, her husband called "Patrick I'm at the night market eating noodles don't bother me," she said, not missing a beat.

Patrick sounded worried on the other end. "Don't cause too much trouble, okay?

Don't lead Mrs. Cedillo and the new friend astray."noveldrama

Aimee snorted. "Me? If anyone's

leading anyone astray it's those two.

They've practically emptied the

police station's tea supply, and I haven't even gotten a taste yet!"

Patrick could only sigh. "Competing isn't a good look, you know." She hung up, and the three moms and their three munchkins dug in.

17.

Henry, tired of sitting, caught a whiff of the food and opened his mouth wide for a bite. His mom fed him. Wayne wanted some too, but his mom checked and counted Six teeth in total-top and bottom. Nope, you can't chew this yet. Just look, kiddo."

Aimee glanced down at her son, who was fixated on the grown-up food on the table.

Apparently, little kids only wanted what the adults were having-except Henry, who devoured just about everything.

Aimee covered her son's eyes. "If you can't see it, you won't feel the pain of missing out."

Molly followed her lead, but Wayne flailed and tried to claw her hand away.

She pretended to bite his little fingers. “Keep it up and I'm calling the cops, mister. You're a year old now-you can get booked!"

Wayne stared up at her, wide-eyed, as if every mom in the world threatened to have their cop husband arrest their kid.

Mia fed her son a few bites to satisfy his curiosity, then suddenly said, "You know what? Let's not go home tonight."