“And then we need to meet everyone at the Italian restaurant.”
Palmer added an additional finger, holding four fingers up.
Beau waited patiently, not rushing her.
“What if we take a shower together, Daddy? Would that save some time.”
Nodding, Beau agreed. “It would.”
“How many minutes would it save us?”
“About twenty minutes,” he answered.
“Can you hold me for twenty more minutes?”
Pressing a kiss to her head, he held her closer and sat down on the bed with her. “I like how you used your problem-solving skills, pretty baby.”
“Thanks, Daddy. I missed you today.”
Rocking them back and forth, Beau murmured his agreement. “It’s a long day when I don’t get to see your pretty face during the day.”
“Thank you for taking the time to rock me.” Suddenly her tummy hurt a tiny bit. Had it been selfish to ask for more of his time? Beau already gave her so much. She sat up in his arms. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Frowning, he stroked her face. “Why are you sorry, baby?”
“You already do so much for me and I asked for more. That was selfish of me.”
Repositioning her on his lap, he moved her so they were chest to chest. “It isn’t selfish of you to ask me for more time at all, little one. It’s healthy and I am very, very glad you did.”
“It’s healthy?” That was weird. Broccoli and carrots were healthy, not asking for more time.
“Any time you ask for what you need in a relationship—friendship or romantically—it’s healthy. It’s a clear sign ofcommunication. I will always do my best to grant your requests in our relationship, I might just not be able to do it the minute you ask. Today for example, I want very much to hold you, but we have a commitment to be on time for dinner, so while I can’t spend the rest of the night holding you—even though I very much want to—I do plan to make extra time for us to snuggle when we get back from dinner.”
Palmer listened carefully. She always listened when Beau explained things--he was so good at helping her understand.
Still sitting in his lap she thought about what he had said.
“So asking for things we need is healthy?”
“That’s right.”
“And just because someone maybe can’t do it right away doesn’t mean they’re rejecting you or saying no.”
“Exactly.”
Palmer nodded thoughtfully. That made sense. Her earlier tummy ache of worry started to loosen. “Okay,” she said quietly.
Beau brushed a curl away from her forehead. “Are you feeling better about it?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders again and rested her head against him for a moment.
Beau rocked them gently, the slow back-and-forth motion calming and steady.
After a few sways, Palmer spoke again. “How many minutes have we used already?”
