Chapter 4

"So how are we going to do this?" Joe asked as he stared at the line for Space Mountain.

Three of the kids could go, but someone had to stay behind with Isabella.

"You can take the twins. When you're done, I'll take Luke and you can stay with Isabella."

"Got it all figured out do you?" he teased.

"8 years in the Navy," they said in unison.

Taylor looked at him and laughed. She wiggled her finger. Joe leaned down to listen to what she had to say. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the top of his head. She fished in her bag and pulled out her ever present bottle of sunscreen. She added some to the top of his head.

"Thanks, Babe, but in 10 minutes it's going to be dripping in my eyes."

"It won't. Trust me. This is the good stuff."

"Too hot for a cap."

She nodded. While the intense Florida heat didn't bother her, she knew it would bother Joe. As much as he complained about the cold Chicago winters, she knew he wouldn't adapt well to Central Florida. He had been talking about relocating to Florida after he retired from CFD. She thought he would do better in San Diego. She wanted to go back to San Diego. She had been stationed there and loved it. She loved being able to finish a shift and go surfing.

"How do you know so much, Babe?" he asked.

"4 years in San Diego and 4 in Italy. You learn right away what the good and bad sunscreens are. Now, go take the twins and get in line or we'll be here all day. And we promised someone she could go see Elsa."

"Ok, Ok," he agreed. He gave her a quick kiss. He bent down and kissed Isabella. "Michael, Gabriel, we're up. Let's go."

As the guys walked toward the ride, Isabella gave Taylor's shirt hem a tug. "Mommy?"

Taylor glanced down. "What's up, Belle?"

"Why does Daddy kiss us when he leaves?"

"Because he loves us," Taylor explained.

"He didn't kiss Luke. Does that mean he doesn't love Luke?"

"No, Belle. He loves Luke too. But it's a guy thing. They think they're too manly for stuff like that."

Isabella worked her eyebrows and bit her lip. "Ok. But it just seems odd."

Taylor hid a smile. "Men are odd, Belle. You'll find that out soon enough."

"When, Mommy?"

"In about 10 years when you discover boys aren't so bad."

"That will never happen. Boys stink."

Taylor couldn't help but laugh at Isabella's last statement. She knew it was a normal stage for four year olds, so she wasn't worried. "Someday you will eat those words, Isabella Maria."

"Oh, Mommy, the only good men in this world are Daddy and Grandpa," she reminded.

Taylor rolled her eyes and looked skyward. Lord, please help me out here. This kid is going to be the one that gives me the most trouble,' she thought.