"Okay, kiddo," I said, turning off the TV. "Time to get ready for bed." Taylor and Laura were at a pre-cana session, and I was baby-sitting Madeline in their new home.
"Aww, Zac! Do I have to?"
"Yup."
"Can't I stay up a little bit longer? Please?" she begged, giving me puppy-dog eyes.
I sighed. Madeline sure knew how to pour on the charm. "Tell ya what. Get ready for bed, and then I'll read you a bedtime story. Okay?" We went upstairs to Maddy's bedroom and she got ready for bed. "Did you brush your teeth?"
"Yup."
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh."
"Let me smell your breath."
"Oops. I forgot." She rushed to the bathroom and I stood in the doorway, supervising.
"Now. What story do you want me to read?" I asked as we made out way back to the bedroom.
Maddy stared at her bookshelf and pondered. "This one!" she said, holding a small, thin book.
I looked at the cover. The title read, Once Upon a More Enlightened Time. Underneath it said, More Politically Correct Bedtime Stories.
"Where on earth did you get this?" I asked as she snuggled under the covers.
"Someone gave it to Mommy before I was born."
I opened the cover. Inside was a message written by the presenter. I read the inscription aloud. "Dear Madeline, May you grow up to be independent, strong, and may happiness fill your life. Much Love, Amanda Jean." I paused. "Who's Amanda Jean?"
Maddy shrugged, taking the book from my hands. "Beats me." She flipped through the pages. "Here. Read this one."
I chuckled at the title, "Sleeping Persun of Better-Than-Average Attractiveness." I read the story to my soon-to-be niece. Even though she didn't really grasp the concept, I thought it was hysterical. Apparently, Amanda Jean had a great sense of humor.
"Zac?" Maddy asked when I was done reading the story.
"Yeah, Honey?"
"Do I have to wait until Mommy and Taylor are married to call you Uncle Zac? Is it okay if I call you Uncle Zac now?"
"Sure, Sweetie," I said, kissing her forehead. "You can call me uncle now if you want."
"Well, then, do you think it's okay if I call Taylor Dad even though him and Mommy aren't married yet?"
I smiled while brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "I bet Taylor would LOVE it if you called him Dad."
"Uncle Zac?"
"Mmm-hmm?" Maddy reminded me of how I always tried to put off going to sleep when I was young. If I didn't know better, I would swear there was Hanson blood pumping through her veins.
"Do you think I'll get a little brother or sister?"
I smiled. "It's possible."
"Well, I want a sister. That way, we can be in each other's weddings, like Mommy and Aunt Pam."
"I think you've got a while before you have to worry about that," I told her. "Goodnight, Sweetie."
"Goodnight, Uncle Zac." Maddy blew me a kiss.
In the living room, I opened a text book and attempted to study before Tay and Laura came home. I smiled to myself, remembering how Maddy blew me a kiss. She was, to say the least, a charmer. And at the rate I was going, she'd probably be married before me.