He’s trying for a joke but it falls flat. I can tell he’s actually worried about the type of dad he’s going to be. In the time we spent before he left, I learned to read Christian, at least a little bit.
“You have been a father for a day and already you are mastering it. Give yourself a little grace, Christian.”
Christian shakes his head but doesn’t argue with me. Instead, he passes Maribel over to me. “I think she’s itching for breakfast. While you take care of her, I’ll make us something. Do you still enjoy brown tea or do you need something without the caffeine?”
“There is a box of tea above the stove I enjoy. Your brown tea is still there as well. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it while you were gone.”
Christian looks at me, his expression unreadable. Apparently, it’ll take time before I can read him as easily as before. This man has layers and secrets and walls. I hope someday, he will let me see behind them.
I am willing to be as patient as he needs me to be because I am not going anywhere.
Now that he’s home, I’ll do everything I can to keep him here.
I sit down on the stool at the breakfast island. I tug down my shirt and get Maribel to latch. Christian fills up the kettle and sets it on the stove to start heating. Then he digs out a few eggs from the fridge and gets a pan heating.
I’m nervous to admit how good this all feels. Christian is here, sharing the same space as me. He’s showing himself to be a doting father and a caring partner. He’s making sure I’m drinking water, making sure I’m fed. He’s allowed me to sleep in. I don’t just love this attention, I’m slowly coming to crave it.
Some of the voices in my head whisper that it won’t last. They warn that this isn’t wise. A few voices remind me that there are plenty ofLayperryon this planet who would do anything to become my mate, that they would be a much better pairing for me. Other voices congratulate me for having my mate back with me, celebrating this as a win. One voice calls out that I should hightail it out of here with him back to Earth. There’s always one voice saying the most random things.
Christian makes my tea before sliding it over to me, starting on the eggs. Neither of us share a word, just stay in the same space in comfortable silence. The silence makes the voices worse, but that’s okay. I can ignore them for now. Nothing will make me ruin this moment.
I sip my tea as Christian finishes up his cooking. Then he’s sliding a plate of eggs and toast towards me. He has his own plate along with a cup of brown tea. He says it reminds him ofcoffee, a morning drink he enjoyed back on Earth.
“Thank you, Christian.”
“No worries. Gotta make sure my baby daddy is fed.” Christian’s face twists into a grimace. “Never tell anyone I said that or I’ll throw myself out a window. Gross.”
I chuckle fondly. “We wouldn’t want that.”
“No, we wouldn’t. The windows in this place are really nice. It would be a pain in the ass to replace them.”
“Oh yes. I am far more worried about replacing the windows rather than replacing you.”
Christian looks up at me, his mouth full of food. He gives me a tiny grin that’s made cutest by the way his cheeks are puffed up with food. I take a bite of my toast, doing my best not to cover Maribel in crumbs.
“Thanks for letting me stay here, Ghenie.”
Taking a page from his book, I nod and say, “don’t mention it.”
Christian chuckles, shaking his head at me before digging into his food. I help Maribel off my chest and close my shirt. Then I place her against my shoulder and pet her back until a burp works its way out.
“Whoa. Nice one, Maribel,” Christian says with surprised, wide eyes. “I didn’t know she had it in her!”
“You will be surprised the amount she has in her. Wait until you get your first poopy diaper.”
“Is it weird if I say I’m looking forward to it?”
I shrug. “A little, but I will not hold it against you.”
“Appreciate it,” he says, pretending to tip his hat at me. He scarfs down the rest of his food before taking his plate to the sink and washing his hands. “I can take her so you can eat,” he says, holding out his hands for Maribel.
It’s so wonderfully strange to have an extra pair of hands around. The weight of parenthood is crushing, but now that Christian is here, it doesn’t feel like it will flatten me. It feels manageable.
I pass our child over. He lifts her in the air, hovering her over his head.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Christian narrows his eyes. “I can’t hold my daughter in the air? Really?”
