Storybook Romance

Allison’s approach was clearly better, and he marveled at her creativity in dealing with the twins. He’d better pay attention.

He rose, and Allison moved over next to him with Nicky on her back. “Okay, are you two ready for a race?” she asked with a brilliant smile that had Sam’s heart twitching.

“I’m ready!” Nicky kicked his feet at Allison’s hips. “Let’s go.”

“I’m ready, too,” Rosie announced, bouncing on Sam’s back like a real cowgirl. “Go!”

Sam looked at Allison. “You ready?”

Suddenly, she jerked sideways and started running. “See ya later!” she yelled over Nicky’s squeals.

Dead surprise froze Sam for a few seconds. Why, that little schemer, she’d jumped the gun.

“Run, Daddy, run!” Rosie said, kicking her legs at his sides.

Belatedly, he broke into a trot as he tightened his hands on Rosie’s lower legs to hold her in place. “Hold on, Rosie-girl! I’m gonna have to run fast to catch up.”

Rosie giggled and bounced. “Okay, Daddy! Geeyup!” she said, mangling giddyup in her cute little way.

He moved along as fast as he could, but Allison had a pretty good head start and seemed to have the whole piggyback-horsey thing down to a science. She ran smoothly yet with purpose, keeping Nicky firmly on her back, whereas Sam had to slow down to keep Rosie from tumbling off.

How did Allison do that?

By the time he reached the edge of the park, which bordered the parking lot of the Everything, Allison was already around the corner, presumably reaching his car in record time.

He picked up the pace as he hit the parking lot, squeezing Rosie’s legs harder, hoping to make up time with a final push. But, sure enough, as he rounded the corner, he saw Allison and Nicky reach the car. Nicky’s shrieks of glee echoed in the dusk-tinged air.

A few seconds later, Sam arrived at the race finish, breathing hard. Rosie was giggling so much she seemed incapable of speaking. Nicky was bouncing on Allison’s back, his face split into a delight-fueled smile.

Allison appeared barely winded.

“You jumped the gun,” Sam managed to say, hiking Rosie up higher on his back. “And you’ve clearly had piggyback horse races before.”

“You’ve got me there.” Allison inclined her head to the side and flashed him an impish grin. “I did this all the time when my sisters were little.”