An excerpt from Where Dreams Are Born, a Kindle Unlimited book.
Jack pried the child’s dimpled arms from his neck, kissed her sisters, and rumpled Tommy’s hair. “Where’s your mom, sport?”
“Upstairs trying on her new clothes.”
“Daddy,” Linda said, tugging at his arm. “Can you take us to the park after supper?”
“Can’t, honey, I have a racquetball game tonight.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Can’t then either, babe. I promised Tommy we’d work on his pitching arm.”
The little girl’s face clouded over.
“Honey, I’m sorry. I already promised Tommy. Besides, Daddy needs time to do just guy stuff. I’ll take all of you to the park some other time, okay?”
Linda’s bottom lip bulged. “Ohh-kay,” she said, drawing out each forlorn syllable.
Hoping to cheer her up, Jack tickled her under the chin. “But, hey, we’re all going to the beach on Sunday. That’ll be fun.”
Linda returned his announcement with a feeble smile, Suzy greeted it with a delighted shriek, and Jodie merely wrinkled her button nose and grinned.
Jack grinned as well, amazed by his children’s diverse personalities. Linda, independent and controlled, expressed her feelings subtly if at all; Suzy, abounding with exuberance, shared every emotion the instant she experienced it, vocally, animatedly, and uninhibitedly; sweet, even-tempered Jodie fell somewhere in between, not as aloof as one sister, not as vociferous as the other. A real mixed bag, he thought as he climbed the stairs, unlike the children he grew up with.
In the foster care system, most of the kids learned early on to rein in their emotions, wary of showing anger when ragged lest they become the butt of every prank. And God help the poor tyke who couldn’t control a quivery lip and brimming eyes. Even joy was suspect, a kid sooner scorning that which brought him pleasure than risk having it snatched away by mean-spirited playmates.
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http://www.amazon.com/Where-Dreams-A...dp/B00EFG7X5A/