“Hey, sweetie, what can I do?” Speedy crooned as he walked and patted her back.
“What about some music?” he asked, starting to humTry Anythingby Shakira. It was stuck in his head because Deacon requested it whenever they had music on.
He sang and walked back and forth across the room, but Tessie wasn’t appreciative of it at all.
“Hey, Deacon’s ready for bed. Do you want me to take a turn?” Violet asked from the doorway.
Speedy thought through what he should do. Was this something babies did, or was something really wrong?
“Can you hold her for a minute? I think she feels hot, but I don’t know if it’s because she’s been crying or because something’s wrong. I’m going to see if I can get ahold of Stella or Flick,” Speedy said.
Violet took Tessie, laying her lips against Tessie’s forehead. “I think she feels warm. She does have a lot of clothes on,” Violet commented.
It had dropped into the forties tonight, and he didn’t want Tessie getting cold. He’d put her in a onesie with the pink flannel footie pajamas that Jessie and Cannon had brought over.
“Do you think I have too many clothes on her?” he asked.
“Well, how about I take some of these off and put her in what she’s been wearing to bed while you read Deacon a story? Then if she’s still this unhappy, I do think we’ll need to call Flick or Stella,” Violet suggested.
Speedy didn’t think it was the clothes, but he also didn’t think fifteen minutes would make a difference in when he called. Deacon needed the reassurance of a normal bedtime.
“Okay. I’ll be back after I get Deacon to bed,” Speedy said, forcing himself to walk out of Tessie’s room and leave her with Violet. He kept remembering what Baron had mentioned about not doing this alone and to let go and accept help. Violet was the person he trusted most with the kids. She’d let him know if Tessie got worse. And Deacon needed him too.
Speedy walked into Deacon’s room, pasting a smile on his face. “Are you ready for a story and bed?” Speedy asked.
“Yes, because the faster I go to sleep, the faster the days go until Christmas. Grant and David both said Santa always finds them here. I was worried he wouldn’t know where I was since I moved,” Deacon said.
Speedy sat down on the bed and pulled Deacon close for a hug. “Yeah, buddy, Santa will definitely find you. Is there something you were hoping for?” Speedy asked, his heart stuttering at the thought he had nothing for the kids for Christmas. Today was December eighteenth. It was six days until Christmas morning. How could he have forgotten gifts for the kids? Tessie wouldn’t know but Deacon would.
“I’ve never had a bicycle. Maybe I could get one and learn. Grant and David have mini dirt bikes but maybe I could get that next year. I don’t want Santa thinking I’m asking for too much,” Deacon said against his chest.
“Hmm, well, I think you can ask Santa for whatever you want, but then he brings what he thinks you’ll like and also need. Let me grab a piece of paper and let’s work on your list,” Speedy said, quickly grabbing a notebook and pen.
Speedy settled against the headboard, slipping his arm around Deacon.
“Let’s get a list started. What besides a bicycle and a dirt bike would you like?” Speedy asked.
Deacon’s head laying on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around Speedy’s waist while they worked on the list was one of those times Speedy would always remember. His son was with him, and it was almost Christmas. They finished the list, and Speedy read a short book to Deacon. He and Deacon had taken a little longer tonight, and Speedy was nervous and needed to check on Tessie.
Speedy tugged the cover up on Deacon’s chest and kissed Deacon’s cheek. “Love you, buddy, sleep tight,” Speedy said.
“Love you, Daddy,” Deacon whispered, closing his eyes. Speedy turned off the light, leaving the room with only the small nightlight casting a glow in case Deacon needed to get up.
Speedy didn’t think he’d ever get tired of hearing Deacon call him Daddy. He guessed as Deacon aged, it would probably change to Dad but that was fine by Speedy. He adored his son.
Speedy walked down the hall and paused in the doorway of Tessie’s quiet room. Violet was rocking Tessie in her arms, and Tessie was quiet.
He walked over and touched Tessie’s head. “Umm, so she was too hot?” Speedy asked.
Violet smiled. “I don’t know. I do know once we got her changed, she calmed down. How was Deacon?” she asked.
Speedy sat down on the floor by the rocking chair. “Well, I’m batting a thousand. I dressed my daughter in clothes that were too hot and made her scream. Then to top that, I didn’t even think about Santa coming in less than a week.”
Violet stood up. “Sit in the chair, please.”
Speedy stared at her, then took her place in the chair. Violet laid Tessie in his arms, then she knelt beside the chair as he snuggled his little girl.
“You love them and have from the moment you met them. You didn’t consider saying no. That’s what a dad does. So you put too many clothes on her. You were caring for her. And as far as Santa, I bet if you text Regina, she’ll have already started doing stuff for you. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since coming here, it’s that family takes care of each other. The kids are family,” Violet said, placing a kiss on Tessie’s head.
