“I’m going to read to Spence,” she announces.
“You really are honoured today,” Corey says.
I listen to her read her schoolbook. The story is pretty dry, but I guess there’s only so much you can do with phonics-based early reading books. When she’s done, she snaps the book shut and hands me her reading log and a pen.
“I’ll do that,” Corey says.
Lexi shakes her head. “Nope. Spence listened to me read, so he has to fill it in.”
I chuckle as I note down how many pages she read and write a brief note about how she read clearly and sounded out words she was unfamiliar with.
“We’re going to see a house tomorrow,” she says. “It has a pink bedroom.”
“It sounds perfect.”
“It’s almost perfect,” Lexi agrees.
“Almost?”
“It only has two bedrooms.” She holds two fingers up. “Uncle Blake won’t be living with us.” She hangs her head for a couple of seconds and then looks up again, smiling brightly. “You should come and see the house with us.”
“You want me to?” I ask.
She nods. “If you’re going to be sleeping over again, you should like our new house too.” She stands up. “Is it bath time, Daddy?”
“Yes,” Corey says, looking as shocked as I feel. “I won’t be long,” he tells me. “Feel free to watch TV.”
“Can Spence read me a bedtime story?” Lexi asks.
“I think that will be okay,” Corey says, looking to me.
“I’d love to,” I reply.
Lexi grins. “I want bubbles, Daddy,” she says before running out the door.
“That went well,” Corey says.
“Amazingly, I’d say,” I agree.
“Do you want to come and see the house tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
Corey smiles happily. “I’ll call you when she’s in bed.” He kisses me and then leaves the room to follow Lexi.
I relax against the sofa cushions. If only Emily could have been a fly on the wall, she’d be astounded that I’ve gone from confirmed bachelor to picturing myself as a family man in a couple of months. All it took was finding a man I adore, with an equally wonderful daughter.
I watch TV until Corey calls me upstairs. Lexi is tucked up in bed, with a dozen soft toys tucked in around her. She holds a book out to me and pats the edge of the bed. I sit, take the book, and begin to read. Lexi watches me intently the whole time, giggling as I put on silly voices and generally get carried away. I do remember to make my voice softer and slower during the last few pages. While I read, Corey leans against the door frame, arms loosely folded. From the corner of my eyes, I can see he’s smiling, his expression one of happy contentment.
“You’re really good with kids, Daddy,” he says once we’ve said goodnight, have taken our costumes off, and are downstairs in the lounge.
I use his belt loop to pull him close enough our chests collide and kiss him tenderly.
“I’ve got a niece and nephew, remember? They’ve trained me.”
Corey laughs. “Kids have a habit of doing that.”
“They do. I think as grown-ups we like to think we’re in charge, but really it’s the kids.”
