AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Which is great…but also not.
I fully expected my heart to break when Col leaves, but I never took into consideration how Gran and the kids, and, yes, even Emma, might feel. They'll all miss him, too.
The day flies by way too fast. Before I know it, it's the kids' bedtime. I've finished washing Kolby, but he's still wet, and as always, it's a struggle to keep him still while I dry him off.
"Cut it out, mate," I scold him. "You can't go to bed with wet hair."
He tries to wriggle out of my grip, but not only am I stronger than him, I'm also smarter, armed with the knowledge of all his tickle spots. He howls in laughter as I tickle-dry him.
Once he's adequately dry, he scampers down the hall to his room. Col must be in the hallway because I hear Kolby ask, "Can you read me a story, Uncle Col?"
I push to my feet and scurry towards them to save Col from the unexpected ambush. "You don't have to," I whisper to him.
"No. It's fine. I'd love to." He runs a hand through Kolby's perfectly dried hair. "The child deserves one uncle who can read."
"Yay!" Kolby races into his room, yelling about what book he'd like Col to read.
I move closer to him. "Is this how it's going to be? I'm the bad cop, you're the good guy?"
He nods. "Yeah. It is. Get used to it. Don't be jealous."
He gives me a peck on the cheek and slips past me into Kolby's room. I check in on Bridge and say goodnight to her before heading to Kolby and Col.
He's fallen asleep, tucked into Col's side. Col's still softly reading but stops when he sees me. "Is he sleeping?" he mouths.
I guess from his angle, he can't see.
"He is," I mouth back.
"Can you help me?"
I smile, still keeping my voice low. "Once he's out, he's out. Until he wakes up and scurries into my room."
I gently disentangle Kolby from Col's body and press a kiss to his forehead. I turn off all the lamps except for the one by his bed, since he'll need that to see when he gets up in the middle of the night.
Col tiptoes his way out of the room, which has no right being as adorable as it is. Once we're both outside, I say, "Thank you for doing that."
"I honestly don't mind. He's a great kid."
"The best." I look down the hall to the empty living room. "What do you feel like doing? Wanna watch some telly?"
Col smiles. "Sure."
So that's how we end the day, snuggled up on the sofa under a blanket, watching an old black-and-white movie as the rain buckets down outside.
This whole day has been so domestic. We've been stuck inside, but it's never been boring or uncomfortable. In fact, I could do today on repeat many, many more times. It's one hundred percent what I want. The people I love all under the one roof.
Call me simple or boring, but for me, a day like this is what makes life worth living.
31
Col
"Did you want a Gaytime?" Wilby asks, getting off the couch.
The kids immediately cry out enthusiastically, "Yes please!"
"Ooh, that'd be really nice, my love," Polly says, tearing her eyes away from the TV screen.
