“That’s what I told her. But it’s not enough.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself.” He held my gaze. “It’s enough for me.”
My heart melted. “Oh, John.”
“I told you.” He reached for the flannel pants in my hands. “You can make anything better.”
He tugged on the pants, drawing me close, bringing me against him. A little jolt, familiarity and lust, shivered through me as our bodies connected. We kissed softly and then not so softly. I wrapped my arms around his neck. His hands slid under my shirt, seeking skin.
“Mommy!”
The door swung open. We sprang apart. DJ toddled forward, beaming. “Beckfast,” he announced.
I pulled down my hem. “It’s not breakfast time, baby. It’s time to sleep.”
“Cookie.”
“No cookie.” I glanced at John. Reached for DJ’s hand. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
“Daddy!” Evading me, he scampered toward John.
John captured him in a hug. “Come on, buddy.” He hoisted DJ onto his shoulders. “Bedtime.”
DJ chuckled in delight, drumming his feet against John’s shoulders. This was playtime, I thought in dismay. I’d never get him back to sleep now.
“I’ll do it, John. It’ll be quicker,” I said.
But I wasn’t quick. Deprived of both a cookie and Fun Time with Daddy, DJ escalated from fretful to demanding. Mindful of Daisy sleeping in the next bed, of John waiting in the next room, I rocked him, sang to him, read him a story, rubbed his back. But every time I laid him down, he bounced up again.
“DJ, hush,” I begged.
John appeared in the doorway. “I’ve got this. Go to bed.”
I hesitated. “You’ve had a long day.”
“You, too. You had the kids all day.” He nudged me. “Go.”
Reluctantly, I let go of DJ’s hand.
“No, Mommy. No!”
I sank back down on the side of the mattress. “I don’t want to upset him.”
John’s jaw set like DJ’s. “I’ve been thinking. About what you said. About us being partners.”
I stared at him.Nowhe wanted to talk?
He plowed ahead. “The thing is, my dad was never around much. Your father, he’s not much better. I can be like them and not do anything. Or...” He met my gaze, his eyes steady, his jaw firm. “I can try to be your partner. But if we’re partners, sometimes you’ve got to let me do things my way.”
Something inside me softened and relaxed like a fist letting go. My heart. My womb.
DJ crawled out from under the covers, his arms warm and clingy around my neck.
“He’ll wake Daisy,” I warned.
“Then I’ll deal with it.” John sat beside me, lifting DJ from my lap. “Say good night to Mommy.”
DJ twisted and struggled. “No! Mommy!”
