We surrounded the couch and took a spot on either side of Casey. Without taking her eyes off the screen, she said “Hi, daddy. Hi,daddy.”
Flint smiled. I knew he loved it when she called himthat.
“Hey, pup,” Flint said. “What are youwatching?”
“Bubble Puppies,” she replied. It was a colorful CGI cartoon featuring swimming dogs - or something likethat.
“Case,” I began as I stroked her hair. “Flint and I have something to tellyou.”
She wrenched her eyes away from the cartoon with an excited expression. “Is it a surprise?” sheasked.
“Yes, actually,” Flintadded.
She whipped around to him with a gasp. “What is it? A toy?Candy?”
“No, it’s something bigger than that,” Isaid.
Her eyes just about popped out of her head. What was a bigger, better surprise than candy or a toy to a youngpup?
“Do you want me to tell her?” Flint asked, shooting me alook.
Flintwasthe alpha father to both Casey and our new baby. It was only fair that he broke the news. Besides, he had never done this before - I imagine he wanted to go through all the new father rituals he could. I nodded to tell him to goahead.
Flint looked down at Casey with a smile. “Well… you know how we’re afamily?”
Caseynodded.
“We’re not just a family of three anymore,” he told her gently. “Do youunderstand?”
The surprised look on her face turned into confusion. “I don’t getit.”
He put a hand on her small shoulder. “Your dad is pregnant. That means you’re going to have a little brother orsister.”
The living room went quiet, except for the background drawl from the TV. I couldn’t see Casey’s face because she was turned towards Flint - but judging from Flint’s suddenly concerned expression, the news had not gone overwell.
A moment later, Casey threw herself off the couch and stormed towards the bedroom. She stomped her feet and slammed thedoor.
Flint turned to me with a sadexpression.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “That didn’t go over the way I thought itwould.”
“It’s okay,” I said with a sigh. “I had a feeling she wouldn’t exactly be thrilled at first. I’ll go talk toher.”
Flint’s brows knitted together in worry. “Do you want me tocome?”
“I think it’s best if I talk to her alone for now,” I said. I shot him a sympathetic smile. “I’ll call for you later, when she’s not so woundup.”
Flint frowned. “Okay…”
I could tell the stress of not immediately being the picture-perfect father was getting to him. But being a parent wasn’t about being perfect; it was doing the best you could for your child. That was something he would learn intime.
I knocked on the door. “Casey, can I come in?” I askedgently.
There was a silence before I heard her mutter, “Fine.”
I entered the room to find Casey laying down in bed with her face buried in the pillow. Sitting next to her, I put a hand comfortingly on herback.
“Tell me how you’re feeling,” Isaid.
