“I have to go,” Cricket says to Lav. She lifts her mug in my direction. “Thanks for…coffee.”
She didnotwant to say coffee.
She wanted to sayfor two orgasms before seven.
I’m sure of it.
“Grown-ups are so weird,” Lav mutters. “Daddy, can I have one ponytail and one braid today?”
“Sure,” I say as Cricket sends me one more smile before disappearing back down the steps.
“And a pony?” Lav says.
I look at my daughter.
She grins at me. “Can’t blame a girl for trying. What if it’s a pretend pony?”
“To ride into battle against the dragons?”
“I’ve slayed all the dragons. Now I need to learn to ride a show pony.”
Too fast.
She’s growing up too fast. Moving on to new things too fast.
All while still occasionally wetting the bed.
Grown-ups are complicated?
I think she means all humans at all stages.
Including the getting-married stages.
I text back to the group thread, saying that I’ll be over after parental duties.
A text from Cricket pops up simultaneously, saying she’ll be over after a quick shower.
I smile again.
“Why are you so happy?” Lav says.
I glance up at her. “I’m excited about meeting the bride and groom,” I lie.
In all honesty—it’s beautiful to think of Cricket showering.
Both because I like her naked, and because watching her this past month or so has been inspiring.
When she got here, I wasn’t sure she’d ever shower again.
And now—now, she’s ventured outside the winery’s proverbial walls, seduced me on a cliff overlooking town, and is freely showering without fear again.
I’m so fucking proud of her.
And less scared by the day of what she means to me.
I think—I think we could be happy.
Together.
