Ma
Amore Mio, when are you coming home? I’d hate for you not to see Aura until tomorrow morning.
My heart squeezes at the thought of my daughter. I quickly stand up, feeling the familiar comfort of home calling to me. “I’ve got to go,” I tell Josh, a little regretful. “See you later tonight.”
The drive home is quicker than expected. The restaurant was closer to my place than I thought, and before I know it, I’m pulling into the driveway of my house. I get out of the car and head inside, the familiar scent of dinner cooking filling the air.
When I walk in, I’m greeted by Ma holding a wiggly Aura Bean, my little girl. My Ma hands her to me without saying much, but her eyes sparkle with the love she has for Aura.
“Gabriel,” she says, shaking her head with that disapproving but affectionate smile. “I’m running to the store. She just ate, so she should be fine until I get home. But change her.”
I roll my eyes at her. “Ma, I know how to care for her. I am her Papa after all.”
She smiles and shakes her head, murmuring something under her breath. I know it’s a jab, but it’s filled with affection. “Stupid fool,” she murmurs fondly.
Aura fell asleep in her bassinet not long after my Ma left for the store. I get up to grab a drink from the refrigerator and notice that I need to pick up some beer for the weekend. Although I don’t drink a lot, especially now that I am the only one watching Aura when I am off.
A few minutes later, I hear Aura stirring in her bassinet, waking up. I walk over to her and stare down at the tiny baby. Since becoming a dad, I swear I am softer. Much to my protest, having a daughter has changed my perspective on life.
No longer do I sulk around going through the motions of life. I do everything with a purpose in mind. For my daughter.
“Hi Beanie, aren’t you the prettiest baby?” I coo to my daughter.
Aura may only be two months old now, but she is growing and changing every day. Ma tells me that in a few months, she will start eating baby food for lunch.
Aura looks at me with wide eyes and smiles. There it is. That smile does it all. I’m not sure how someone, especially a mother, could not want to experience the joys of watching your child grow up. I am so grateful that I get to watch her grow up.
Aura’s little face scrunches up as she stirs, and I look down at her, feeling an overwhelming surge of love. This little girl has changed everything about me. I never thought I’d be the person to settle down, to care so much about anything outside of myself. But here I am, taking care of her every day, doing what it takes to give her the best life possible.
I play with Aura for a while with these black and white booksMa bought for babies. When I look at the clock, I see it is eight at night and know that Aura gets a bottle anywhere from eight to eight-thirty.
I saunter to the kitchen and grab a bottle from the cabinet. Before Haley left, she had been pumping only, not wanting to be close to the baby during breastfeeding. Luckily, we still have some supply leftover.
I wonder what we will do once we run out? Will we have to switch Aura to formula? I decide to ask Ma when she gets home. The bottle warmer goes off, and I check the temperature of the milk, making sure it’s not too hot.
As I feed her, I can’t help but marvel at the way she looks up at me with those big, innocent eyes, trusting me completely. It makes all the hard days worth it.
After I finish feeding her and she falls asleep, I hear the front door open. Ma walks in with several bags of groceries, the scent of fresh produce following her.
“I got some fresh ingredients and produce for dinner for the next week,” she announces excitedly, clearly proud of her haul. “And I got all the stuff for you to make your homemade Pizza Margherita.”
I smile, my heart swelling with gratitude. Cooking has always been something I’ve loved. Back in Italy, my Nona would let me stand on a stool in the kitchen, teaching me how to make all of our family’s traditional dishes. Food has always been a connection, a way to show love.
“Grazie1, Mamma. I can’t wait,” I respond.
After helping Ma put away all the groceries, I head upstairs to get showered and ready for work.
Alone in the shower, I find myself aroused, fantasizing about a specific girl as I stroke my cock. Millie. I know it’s probably not the most prudent thing to be feeling this way about a woman I have only just met. But I have to admit, Millie has given me a very strong and lasting positive, even if I acted like a dick to her.
Once I am done getting ready, I head downstairs, kiss Ma andAura goodbye, and head out to get to work. Still with one thing on my mind. It’s going to be a long night.
1. Grazie- Thank you
From Cafe Dreams to Nanny Schemes
MILLIE
The restof the week flies by. The couch delivery went seamlessly, and I couldn’t be more in love with how it looks in the space. I can already imagine customers enjoying the cozy fabric, a coffee in hand, matching the café’s vibe. I hope that the forest green sofa adds to the fairytale feel I’m aiming for.
