It tells me multiple things.
The first is that she loves it. From her expression, she’s still trying to decide whether she does, but the way her nipples are stiff against her nightie and the way she keeps shifting tells me what she hasn’t figured out yet.
The second is that my wife not only feels totally safe with me, but my family as well, and that means the world to me. All I want is for her to be happy, know she’s safe, and know she will always be loved.
I let a few minutes pass while she fiddles with the Christmas ornaments and giggles over something Kylie said to the group, but I didn’t hear what it was.
Not wanting Emma to get a rash, I rise and go over to her, holding out my hand. “Come with me,” I tell her.
She looks up at me, her eyes sparkling. “But we’re not done decorating.”
“We’ll come right back.”
Nodding, she slides her hand in mine and stands. I lead her from the room and toward a set of stairs. When we’re in our room, I turn to face her and capture her chin in my hand.
“Are you doing okay?” I ask.
That’s the only thing I care about in all of this.
A soft smile pulls at the corners of her lips. “Yes, Daddy. I’m great. It feels strange, but not bad.”
“I’m proud of you, baby. Honestly, I’m a little surprised you did it out there the first time, but so fucking proud that you did.”
She slides her arms around my neck and snuggles into me. I lean down and hook my arm under her bottom. She immediately wraps her legs around my waist, and I carry her to the changing table. Her diaper is fully soaked, like she’d been holding it for a while. I suspect now that she’s used her diaper once, it won’t be an issue in the future. Otherwise, we’ll have to have another discussion about her holding her pee in. And she definitely won’t enjoy this one.
After I lay her on the changing table, I grab one of the tiny lovey blankets with a pacifier attached and slide the nipple into her mouth. Her hands automatically go to the soft fabric while I grab what I need to change her.
As soon as I’m done, I pull her up by the wrists so she’s sitting on the edge, almost eye level with me. Brushing some of her hair away from her face, I study her one more time to make sure she’s good before I help her to her feet.
“Ready to get back to decorating?” I ask after I finish washing my hands in the ensuite bathroom.
She bounces up and down, bobbing her head. “Yep! We’re going to have the most beautiful tree ever by the time we’re done.”
“I’m sure we will, baby.”
12
BEAU AND EMMA
Beau
“Open.”
Emma opens her mouth and waits for me to slide the forkful of cinnamon roll in before she closes it. She’s strapped into one of the handmade, wooden highchairs that were stocked here. Lucy is in one to her left and Nora to her right. The entire family is in the dining room, eating Christmas Eve breakfast together. Cinnamon is at my feet, hoping I might drop something for her. Which I do. Because she’s a good dog, and she’s wrapped me around her little paw, just like Emma. My girls.
“Daddy, can I give Cinnamon her present today?” Emma asks as she reaches down to pat her velvety head.
“Yes, baby. Later, though.”
First, we need to finish breakfast so they can have a movie day by the fire while we start prepping all the food for tomorrow.
The past few days have been so damn good. We’ve baked cookies and made gingerbread houses. We built a dozensnowmen out front and let the girls go sledding. Wolf nearly had to go to the hospital after that because I’m pretty sure his heart was about to explode from watching all the girls flying down the snow-covered hill so fast.
“Where’d Daddy go?” Claire asks as she eats her breakfast.
I look at Knox, and we pretend to look around the room before we shrug.
“He might have gone to the bathroom. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Do you need something?” I ask Claire.
