“That’s only because I have the best boy any daddy could ever wish for.”
We’d gone right past cute and directly into cheesy.
“Shoot, I almost forgot.” Daddy jogged around the corner and came back a few minutes later with a bag. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
“Double shoot!” We’d said the words to each other first thing then both forgot the gifts we got for the other one. I grabbed the bag for Daddy from its hiding place and handed it to him. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
We dug into our bags at the same time. It was so exciting, like a mini-Christmas. “Ooohhh, teddy bear sockies,” they were so warm. “A box of candy and new coloring books. Thank you so much, Daddy.”
“You’re very welcome. Thank you for the picture frame and box of candy.”
“You’re welcome. I thought we could put the picture of our snow angels in it.” I’d forever associate that picture with the time Daddy asked me to marry him. He had no idea how much it meant that he wanted to keep me forever. He never hid who I was from anyone, smiling whenever he introduced me as his partner. Even let me call him Daddy around others. We weren’t ashamed of our lifestyle or our love. Most of all, Daddy wasn’t ashamed of me.
I made my own money working at Ashwood, Daddy made sure I got a fair salary. No matter what changed with Oscar becoming a partner, I knew without a doubt that Daddy would always make sure I was taken care of and happy. As long as we were together, I would be.
“Tonight, we’ll have a date night at the cabin and Daddy will make a special dinner since you want to stay in.”
“I’d love that, Daddy. Whatcha making?” For me cooking anything beyond microwave use was a bad idea. Nearly burnt the kitchen down trying to make mac ‘n cheese from a box. IfDaddy hadn’t come home when he did the kitchen and likely the whole house would’ve been POOF! Up in smoke!
Yeah, kinda got permanently grounded from cooking after that. It wasn’t my fault that the movie Stitch and I were watching was more important than the boiling water. Who knew it would evaporate if left alone and that the box sitting too close to the burner was a bad thing.
Well, I did now.
Oopsie.
“Well, I had planned on asking you to marry me today, but when I saw you in front of our snow angels it presented the perfect moment and I took it for the sign that it was. Cliché, I know, but I’m a sappy Daddy. What do you think about a big dinner date?”
“I’ve had little time most of our vacation. I think a grown-up date with Daddy, oops, my fiancé Chuck, sounds fantastic.” Why did that make me feel all giggly inside?
Daddy smiled, that special smile he saved just for me. “Pick you up at five in the living room?”
The giggles couldn’t be contained. “I’ll be there. Look for the boy with the shiny new ring.” Flirting was not a game I played well at all. I remember the one time I tried, did the whole sexy eye thing, and Daddy asked if I was constipated. Yeah, not doing that again.
For a while we laid on the couch at opposite ends, our feet meeting in the middle. Daddy had made a fire, and we shared a blanket while I drew and he played on his iPad. The vision for my room was coming to life, and I couldn’t wait for Daddy to see it when it was all done.
“Sweetheart,” Daddy said as we finished lunch. “Daddy needs to run a couple of errands in town. Do you want to go with me or stay here.”
Warm and comfy, I was staying put. “I’ll stay here, Daddy.” He put a couple big logs on the fire, gave me a kiss and headed out.
It felt wonderful having the ideas flow through me. Who knew a simple vacation a couple hours away from home was what we both needed. It was like I found myself all over again, only this time it didn’t require being handcuffed.
Daddy came back, arms full of bags, sat them down, and went right back outside. Curiosity had his boy picking through them but all I found was boring food.
“Looking for something?” I jumped a foot in the air. “Busted!”
“Sorry, Daddy, but prezzies,” I waved my arms in front of the bags.
He kissed my head, “Here, this is for you.”
“Mmm, nummy hot chocolate. Thank you, Daddy,” I stood on tiptoes to kiss him. He’d picked it up at the diner in town. I loved theirs. It had lots of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.
“You relax while Daddy makes dinner.”
“Date dinner.”
“Yes, date dinner. I’ll see you at five.”
I checked the time on my phone, and with an hour to go, I cleaned up my mess and took a shower to get ready. Why was I so excited about this?
