Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Oh.
“We need to make a list of things to keep at this house.” I’d forgotten the right cups. “I don’t have a sippy cup or bottle, but I’ve got a twirly straw that goes round and round and a fun cup from McDonald’s.”
And I was back to being a great Daddy.
“Good straws, Daddy?” Tugging on my hand, he raced us through the living room and grabbed the bear before rushing us toward the kitchen. “Big kitchen, Daddy.”
He paused, taking in the space. “My straw?”
Yes, there was no point in going through every drawer to find his new straw.
“I’ll show you.” Leading him over to the other side of the kitchen, I opened up my random shit drawer. It wasn’t the junk drawer, but it did have a ridiculous amount of random things like twirly straws and silly-looking plastic silverware. “This is where we’re going to put fun straws for you and then we’ll reorganize this cabinet for cups and plates and important things like that.”
“Mine.” Nodding, he rested his head on my shoulder. “My baking?”
Yes, we couldn’t forget that either. “I’m going to make some space in the pantry for all your baking supplies.”
Picking out his cup and straw, I took him over to the fridge to get water for him. “You need pans and sprinkles and cookie cutters. Oh, and icing for cupcakes.”
That got another giggle from him, but it was softer that time. “Cookies and cupcakes.”
“They’re the best.” I shrugged as I brought the straw up to his lips. “You make very good cookies and cupcakes, and oh, don’t forget the banana bread.”
“No nuts. No raisins.” He’d have laughed but the straw was too tempting and distracted him. By the time he finished his water, his brain had shifted gears again and he was back to relaxed and snuggly. “Good Daddy.”
“Thank you.” Kissing his head, I set the cup down and wrapped him in my arms. “Let’s go snuggle.”
Because books and snuggles were the best way to end the day.
****
Quiet nights seemed to be followed by chaotic mornings because I woke up to Terrence staring down at me from where he was sitting on my stomach. “I wasn’t nosy or naughty. I didn’t look. But you have to or I might explode.”
He was being very earnest and very honest, but the only problem was that I had no idea what he was talking about.
“Thank you for doing such a wonderful job at being good. I know that’s hard.” Especially when he wanted to be nosy about something. “The fact that you have more self-control than my family means a lot.”
On a variety of levels.
“I was good. I was going to be quiet until you woke up but they were naughty.” Terrence seemed to think that answered a lot of questions. “But now you’re awake.”
Because he was sitting on me.
“I promise to stay awake and fix the situation.” Whatever it was. “But you’re sitting on my bladder. One second.”
He grumbled when I lifted him off my stomach and hopped off the bed, but he’d mostly stopped griping about being good by the time I got back and into position again. “There we go. Now we can start again.”
Terrence climbed back into place and looked like he was ready to start lecturing me all over again, but he froze when we both heard a sound.
Wait.
My phone.
The text message beep had me turning toward the nightstand and it got a sigh from Terrence. “I didn’t touch it.”
The phone.
He hadn’t touched the phone.
Okay, some of the blanks were starting to get filled in.
“My family is texting at this hour? Someone better be dead or in jail.” I probably shouldn’t have said that considering how old some of my relatives were and how stupid the rest were, but it just popped out because it was fucking early.
“I’ll make you breakfast cupcakes if you tell me what it says.” Terrence was vibrating with desperate excitement. “I saw Sergio’s name pop up and then Carlo and then I realized I shouldn’t look. So I didn’t. I just waited and waited.”
He’d clearly done too much waiting because I couldn’t decide if he was big and slightly nuts or little and overly excited.
“Next time you can wake me up for something like this.” Anything like this. “If I don’t hear the phone or if you’re worried about something are both valid reasons to wake me up.”
“Okay. Good.” Letting out a breath that deflated his whole body, Terrence looked relieved. “I didn’t know the rules, Daddy.”
Okay, he looked relieved for about five seconds.
“The phone, Daddy.”
The damned thing was worse than the doorbell.
“Okay, you reach for it and we’ll see what’s going on.” Terrence nearly flew off the bed to grab the phone and had it in his hot little hands before I’d even finished the sentence.
“Here you go, Daddy. Here.” His level of excitement had me wondering if he’d been up half the night drinking coffee.