“Um, no? Daddy would be Dimimi.”
“I’m Dimimi,” Damien objected.
Emily crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks.
There was no winning against four-year-old logic.
The nurse pushed Matthew past where Damien and Emily stood and advanced toward the doors. Damien and Emily followed.
“Daddy, can I hold the baby?” Emily asked. She’d given up on being a blowfish upon exiting the hospital. “Please pleaseplease?”
The nurse helped Matthew to his feet, then took the wheelchair back into the hospital. “When we get home. You can sit in the armchair in the baby’s room and hold him. Maybe you and I and Bryan can all fit together and snuggle.”
“Okay,” Emily sighed. “Iguess.”
“It’s okay, Emimi. You don’t see your dad giving me the baby either, do you? We’ll just have to wait and take our turns holding him once everyone is home.”
Matthew glanced at Damien, who was smiling at Emily like she was his own. The sight filled him with joy. At one point he’d worried that once the baby was born, Damien’s love for Emily would diminish in comparison, but that hadn’t been the case at all. Having a child of his own seemed to have taught Damien what it was like to love someone unconditionally, and while it was still a little early to tell, to Matthew it felt like he’d taken that knowledge and used it to strengthen his bond with his daughter.
“Okay.” Emily held out her hand to Damien, who took it and guided Emily safely across the parking lot. Matthew followed, Bryan cradled in his arms. This was his life now, he realized as Damien unlocked the Odyssey and got Emily situated in her booster seat. There were sure to be obstacles and setbacks along the way, but at the end of the day, this was what he had to look forward to—a soon-to-be husband who loved him and actively helped him grow, a daughter who was clever and caring, and an infant son Matthew couldn’t wait to get to know.
His family.
With Damien’s help, he strapped Bryan into his baby seat. Once the door was closed, Damien slipped a hand around his waist, pulled him close, and kissed him with an understated passion that brought Matthew back to the time they’d spent together in Fiji.
“I love you, baby boy,” Damien whispered when the kiss ended. “Thank you for being so strong for us.”
“Me?” Matthew grinned. “I’ll take the compliment, but don’t think for a second that I’m the only one who’s had to be strong all this time.”
“I know.” Damien winked. “Emily’s been lifting some pretty heavy weights lately. I’m thinking if we get Bryan started early enough, the two of them can take down the Dad Police for me. Did anyone text you the pictures they took of the hot dogs I left on the grill?”
“No.”
“Imagine what pepperoni sticks would look like if they’d passed through an active volcano and you probably won’t be all that far off.”
A peal of laughter echoed through the parking lot. Matthew, overcome by love, wrapped his arms around Damien’s neck and kissed him one more time. “Thank you for not burning our house down.”
“Any time.”
The glint in Damien’s eyes was full of love and laughter, and it reminded Matthew of why he loved Damien most of all—he hadn’t just found the perfect Daddy for himself, but for Emily and Bryan, too.
Epilogue
Damien
KnotMyProblem: Whose turn is it to host the Single Dad Babysitting Ring?
KnotMyProblem: Plus, how do you guys keep track? Is there some secret Google Sheet I haven’t been given access to, or do you all have an unspoken agreement where no one keeps track in the hopes the other Dads will take the bullet for you?
KnotMyProblem: Also, petition to change it to the Single Dad Goblin Herding Ring
xVerity: Petition denied.
KnotMyProblem: Rude
“Mimi! Mimi, look!” Emily tugged on Damien’s sleeve. In her hand was a drawing of…
Uh.
