Aaliyah hops off the couch and runs to the front door, plopping herself down on the floor to pull on her sneakers. “Let’s go, Daddy!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” I say, jogging after her.
I put on my shoes, grab the keys, and pick up Aaliyah before we head out the door.
Aaliyah is napping in her car seat when we get back home, so I wait it out for another twenty minutes. She missed her usual nap time when we left for the flower shop. But before coming home, we stopped at the supermarket where Aaliyah helped me find all of Lana’s comfort snacks, including the vanilla frosting.
It’s when I start dozing off that I get out of the car andtake Aaliyah out of her car seat, holding her to my chest while I grab the rest of the things we bought on our little trip. I open the new yellow door of our house and it’s quiet. After I remove my sneakers, I go toward the kitchen, setting everything down on the island before I put Aaliyah down beside Lana and remove her shoes.
I let my girls nap for a bit longer while I get started on a late lunch for Lana. After Aaliyah was born, our doctor suggested this new diet. Lana had been lacking nutrients and vitamins so now, we eat the same diet and meals every day together. Always in solidarity. For Aaliyah, I put together her occasional dino-nuggets with homemade French fries that she loves so much.
The fries are frying on the stove when I hear soft footsteps. I look down to find my baby rubbing at her eyes, her pigtails lopsided and loose on the top of her head. “Daddy, I’m hungry.”
I pick her up and hold her to my hip. “Perfect timing. I’m making you nuggets and fries.”
Aaliyah gives me a sleepy smile and rests her head in the crook of my neck. “Can we wake up Mommy yet?”
I turn down the stove and let the nuggets finish cooking in the toaster oven. “Do you want to bring her the flowers?”
My baby nods and I help her hold the large bouquet with sunflowers and smaller purple flowers Aaliyah picked out. In the family room, I sit with her on my lap and she gently shakes her mother’s shoulder. “Mommy. Mommy, wake up.”
Lana stirs, groaning then clearing her throat softly. “Hey, baby.” She sits up, wincing. “Oh, what is this?”
“Flowers for you, Mommy.”
Aaliyah holds out the heavy bouquet, and Lana accepts them with a grin. “They’re beautiful.” She kisses our daughter's head then reaches to kiss me. She rubs the tip of her nose against mine. “Thank you.”
“Mommy, are you feeling better?”
Lana nods. “I am now.”
“Daddy made nuggets!”
Lana gasps. “He did? Well, let’s go eat lunch.”
Aaliyah hops off my lap and runs through the house, toward the kitchen. “Don’t touch the stove!”
“Okay!” she calls back.
I snort and stand to help Lana. She sets the bouquet aside and I move her legs over the edge of the sofa before I take her hands. “Ready?”
She hisses. “I can stand on my own, Christian.”
“You’re so stubborn,” I mutter and help her up anyway.
On her feet, she winces again and throws her arms around my neck, holding on tight. My hands hold her hips and drift to her lower back, massaging the area. “Oh that feels good,” she moans. “I can’t wait until she’s out of me.”
I chuckle. “If I could carry you everywhere, I would.”
She groans. “I might cave and use the wheelchair.”
The patter of footsteps grows louder until Aaliyah is back and jumps onto the sofa. “Come on! I’m hungry!”
Lana laughs. “Aaliyah, do you want to be my special helper?”
She nods.
“Can you hold my hand so I can walk better?”
