“Yes, it does. But, princess, listen to me closely. I love you so much, and that will never change. Mae loves you too. There’s so much love you’re going to explode from it!” he says, tickling her.
She shrieks and giggles, trying to wiggle her way out of his arms.
When he stops, she sighs and loops her arms around his neck. “There’s plenty of love to go around, Daddy,” Naomi says.
My heart stops for a second, utterly amazed by this little girl.
“Yes, sweetheart, there is plenty of love to go around,” he says and sets her down.
Naomi walks over to me and wraps her arms around my waist.
“I love you, Naomi.”
She peers up at me with a bright smile. “I love you too, and you love my daddy?”
I blink quickly, trying to hold back the tears, and glance at Cooper, his eyes already glossy. “Yes, I do,” I rasp.
“Okay,” she says, and takes my hand, continuing down the aisle of carnival games.
After she finishes her games, she goes to the small roller coaster intended for kids her size. She spots a friend from school, and they ride a few of them together while Cooper and I watch from the ground.
“Is the fair all you hoped it would be?” Cooper asks.
I know he’s saying it tongue in cheek, but little does he know it has been everything and more. I’m floating. Watching him with Naomi, and the gentle ways he claims me every time he touches me, the way Naomi simply accepted that I would be a part of her life is nothing short of a dream come true.
“It’s been amazing,” I rasp.
Naomi gets off the ride with her friend waving goodbye, and Cooper opens his hand for her, but she swoops past him reaching for mine. Shocked yet again by the ball of sunshine, I grip her hand and we walk to the next ride she said she wanted.
“Mae?” Naomi says.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“I think you would make a good mommy,” she says.
Cooper trips over his feet, and I rush to help him, but he catches himself as Naomi skips into the line.
“Are you okay?”
He nods and lifts his hat, brushing his hair back. “Mhm, I’m good,” he rasps. “She’s right, but hearing it come out of her mouth…”
I kiss his cheek because there aren’t words and I’m afraid if I open my mouth only sobs will come out.
“Naomi always wants to do the Ferris wheel last, want to come?” Cooper asks.
“Why not? It’s been a long time since I’ve been on one of these.”
We get in line and Naomi plays with her little horse she won until it’s our turn to get on.
As the wheel moves around, my phone rings, and I reluctantly pull it out of my purse. I don’t recognize the number, but something tells me to answer it.
“Who is it?” Cooper asks.
“I don’t know,” I mumble and tap the button. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Mae Morgan?” the woman says.
“Yes, may I ask who’s calling?”
