“Daddy’s leaving?” Melody asked with tears in her eyes.
“Hopefully only for a little while, June Bug,” Leo said, crouching to her level. “I ordered us a pizza, chicken nuggets, and some cheese sticks to have a party until I come home.”
“Can we have another party when you come home?” she asked.
“Yeah. It sounds like a good idea. Did you finish your homework?” he asked.
“Yep, Aunt Bryanna helped me with my math. Do you feel better, Mom? She said you didn’t want us to catch anything,” Melody informed her.
“Oh, yes. Much better. Why don’t you run and take your shower before dinner gets here, and we can have a pajama party in the living room?” she suggested.
“Oh yeah,” Melody said, running to her room.
Saint nodded at Leo and squeezed Catherine. “Take care. Don’t do too much.”
“I’ll do my best,” Catherine said as Saint left.
Derrick started crying, and Leo took him out of his car seat. “How’s my boy? Did you get hungry coming up the mountain with Uncle Saint? Let me change you, and Mommy can feed you while I get your big sister bathed.”
“I put Grace’s things in our bathroom. She squealed and woke Derrick up. It’s easier to bathe her in there,” she said as she slid her robe to the side and fed Derrick.
Leo let the water run while he removed Grace’s clothes. He lifted her into the bathtub and handed her the tub toys to keep her occupied while he washed her body. She played with a rubber duck and glanced up to smile at him. Leo traced the little red curls framing her face.
“You and Melody are the spitting image of your mother. I’ll be in a load of trouble when you two start dating,” he said, watching her run the toy through the bubbles.
“Duck,” Grace said, proudly holding it up for him to see.
“Daddy loves you, Grace,” he whispered. “More than you’ll ever know.”
“I wuv you, too,” she whispered. “Daddy, you sad?”
“No, pumpkin,” he assured her. “Do you want noodles or pizza for dinner?”
“Noodles,” she said with glee.
“Let’s wash your hair, and then I can make them,” he said, hoping she’d cooperate.
“No, me no washy my hair,” she said stubbornly, reminding him of Catherine.
“Do you want a cheese stick? If so, Daddy has to clean your hair and get your pajamas on you,” he bribed.
“Me, no like it,” she said as he poured the water over her head.
“Oh, sure you do,” he cajoled. “Oops, I see a bunny hopping in your hair. Can you help me catch him?”
The room filled with giggles as Grace helped him wash her hair while he searched for the magic bunny.
“Let’s rinse it, and we can find him faster,” he said, using the sprayer for her hair. “Then, you’ll be nice and clean.”
He pulled the plug and let the water drain as he finished rinsing the bubbles from her body.
“Snuggle bunny,” he cried as he wrapped her in a towel and lifted her from the tub to dry her off. He put her into her pajamas and carried her out to the living room.
“You two sounded like you were having fun,” Catherine said as she burped Derrick.
“We did,” Leo said, placing Grace on the floor. “I’ll get her noodles started. Do we have any broccoli?” he asked, heading into the kitchen.
“In the freezer,” she told him as she took Derrick to his crib.
