Chapter Five
Alphonso
Alphonso smiled as he held baby Carolina in his arms, other than Tamia she was one of the cutest babies he’d ever seen.
He looked over at Monique who fast asleep, and it made him chuckle knowing how critical sleep was when taking care of a newborn.
“You’re putting your mommy through the wringer, aren’t you, little one?” Carolina looked at him without a care in the world. Getting acclimated to being a parent was nothing to laugh about. He’d gone through many sleepless nights walking around like a zombie. Cristyn and his fathers helped him out during the day and allowed him to get some sleep. But he was Tamia’s father and had to learn how to care for her on his own.
So, in return for the help he had received, he wanted to give it back. Cradling Carolina in his arms he got up and headed up the stairs to her room, gently rocking her to sleep. By the time he stepped foot into her room, the little one was in baby dreamland. He carefully set her down in her crib and watched her sleep for a few seconds.
Even with sleepless nights and feeling like the dead, he sometimes missed having a baby in his home again. He was enjoying the moments he had with his three-year-old and watching her wonderment as she experienced new things in the world around her. Lately, Alphonso had been thinking of adopting a child so that Tamia could have a baby brother or sister.
What about finding a mate?A voice whispered in the back of his mind. Finding the perfect one for him would be great, but who would want to be with a single father? Mate or not there were some men or women didn’t want to have children. It would hurt Alphonso deeply if his mate didn’t like his sweet baby girl. Or try to use Tamia against him in some way.
Why the hell, am I thinking of the worst possible outcome?Icould find a mate who loves kids as much as I do.
Sighing Alphonso shook his head and quietly backed out of Carolina’s room. Heading back downstairs he went into the room where Monique was still asleep. Grabbing the blanket that was thrown on the back of the couch, he covered her with it and kissed her on the forehead. He really missed the little spitfire she was when they were kids and was sure Carolina was going to be just like her mama. Monique never liked being told what to do, and even at five, she went toe to toe with kids bigger than her. , on the other hand, was the peacemaker out of the two, and it seemed that some things hadn’t changed.
* * *
An hourlater Alphonso stood from the chair he was sitting in when he heard the front door open then close. He knew it would be Cordell, Monique’s husband coming home from his last shift for the next few weeks at the hospital.
“Hey,” he said meeting the wolf at the door. The man appeared just as exhausted as his wife. Cordell still had on his scrubs, he was a nurse and worked in the anesthesiology department.
“Hey, it’s quiet. Does that mean my girls are sleeping?”
“Yup.”
Cordell sighed and rubbed his fingers through his thick curly hair. “Thank the gods. Hopefully, I can close my eyes long enough before Carolina wakes up for her next feeding. Tell me things change soon, and she’ll start sleeping through the night.”
Alphonso chuckled. “It does get better, man, trust me. The first time Tamia slept through the night I woke up in a panic and ran to her room just to make sure she was still there and breathing.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Cordell said to him. “Speaking of Tamia, where is she?”
“With Nana, apparently they needed to do girly things.”
“I’m afraid to guess what the hell they could be up to.”
“I don’t want to think what about what my grandmother could be up to. She’s been talking about me finding a mate.”
“She tends to stay busy. I know she’s planning her annual Valentines dinner and dance. I have a feeling she’s going to play matchmaker. Although I have to admit finding your mate is not a bad thing.”
“Not you too?” Alphonso knew his grandmother had a fascination for playing the town’s matchmaker and wouldn’t put it past his family members to help her out. Valentines as the perfect set up.
“Not to worry, I have my hands full with my two girls,” Cordell told him. “I’ve never been in the matchmaking business. The only thing I will say is that it’s nice to have someone to snuggle with on those cold winter nights. Especially Valentines.”
“You’re not doing a bad job trying to convince me that I shouldn’t be looking for my mate,” he said chuckling. “Anyway, what’s Nana’s Valentine theme this year?”
Each year had a different theme that was always centered on love and romance. Too bad he was going to miss it since he didn’t have a date or babysitter.
“It’s a masquerade ball, set around the 1700s.”
Both Cordell and Alphonso turned around to see Monique up and the blanket he’d covered her with wrapped around her shoulders.
“Hey, baby,” Cordell said to her.
“Hi,” she whispered. “How was your day?”
