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She sat down on the couch with a thud, the bottle-or whatever it was- falling to the floor in her annoyance.

“Let me take care of it,” I said softly, pulling her back up and into my arms.

She blinked, staring at me.

“Okay,” she agreed softly. “But, how will you take care of it?”

I grinned.

“Trust.”

She blinked.

“Trust?”

I nodded.

“Trust,” I confirmed.

She shook her head, stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to my jaw.

“You need to get ready for work. It’s bad out, and I don’t want you rushing to get there,” she whispered.

I nodded. Returned her kiss. Then smacked her ass.

She laughed as she backed up, back pedaling so I couldn’t give her any more of that, then turned towards he kitchen.

“I’ll make you a bagel to go,” she tossed over her shoulder.

I smiled, then turned back to my kid, who was watching me.

“What?” I asked her.

“I’m happy for you, that’s all,” she informed me softly.

I walked over to the arm of the couch and took a seat.

“You make any decisions?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“I want to keep it.”

I nodded, knowing that would be her decision.

“You know what kind of responsibility that is?”

Even though I asked her, I knew she’d have no clue.

No one could know what being a parent would be like until they actually became one.

The good thing, though, was that Attie would have me. She would have Aspen. She would have my parents, who just might flip their lids when they found out. And, ultimately, once Constance came around, she’d have her mother.

She would never, ever be alone.

Not if I was here to have a say in it.

Twenty minutes later, I was out the door, a warm bagel in my hand.