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“It sure is,” I said, smiling fondly at her. “Do you want to see your room?”
Nodding excitedly, Kat could hardly contain herself. Before long, I opened the door to reveal the room painted a light shade of pink, with princess murals and filled to the ceiling with toys. Everything about it was a young girl’s dream.
Kat gasped and ran inside, eyes wide as she took it all in. “All of this is mine?”
“Only yours,” I stated, chuckling at her reaction. “Go ahead, open something up.”
Not needing to hear me say it again, Kat found the nearest box that caught her eye, and she tore through the cardboard, giggling to herself.
I sat on the armchair set up by her bookcase and watched as she was overjoyed with her new things, thanking me as she opened them. It was nice to see Kat so happy, but a bittersweet taste filled my mouth.
It almost felt like something I’d get to see on Christmas day, but I was quickly reminded of all the holidays I never got to be a part of.
On cue, something smacked against the threshold of the door, startling the two of us. Mila was there, red-faced and seething. She ran into the room; tear tracks evident on her cheeks. Immediately, she took a confused Kat into her arms as if it had been weeks.
“What is the matter?” I asked, brows furrowed at the sudden intrusion. My shirt and sweatpants dangled from her body, likely the first thing she grabbed before running out of the suite.
Mila heaved a breath and hissed at me, “I had no idea where Kat was, and your goon wouldn’t let me leave until I started screaming! How could you?!”
Recoiling from her accusatory tone, I looked at her in disbelief, and everything we shared the night before vanished at once. She didn’t trust me. That was a problem.
When I didn’t say anything, Mila paused to examine me, lips forming a thin line. “And you were out fighting again? Are you always going to have a busted lip around our daughter?”
Immediately, that dormant anger rose to the surface again, and my patience evaporated. I clenched a fist down at my side and clenched my jaw to keep from scaring Kat.
As much as I wanted to stay and play with my daughter, I needed to get out of there. I couldn’t take her scolding as if I wasn’t capable of holding my own. As if Mila didn’t know exactly the world I belonged to.
“There are worst things to have.”
Mila gave me a look as if I kicked a precious animal in front of her. “And you wonder why I kept it from you.”
Just as I turned to walk out, I caught the small sniffle that came from Kat. It stopped me in my tracks, and I turned to see the color in her cheeks and the tears in her eyes.
“Mommy, why are you fighting with daddy?” Kat asked, hiccupping in between.
Mila’s face softened along with my own, suddenly reminded that we weren’t the only ones involved in the situation. Kat was at the center of it all.
My heart clenched, and I knew I’d never get sick of being called dad. It’s a shame it took me so long to realize.
Not wanting to make her feel any worse, I put an arm around Mila, noting how she tensed up at the sudden closeness. She threw a questioning look at me, but I ignored it.
“Don’t worry, little one. Everything is fine,” I said, squeezing Mila.
Catching on at last, Mila sighed and relaxed into the embrace, returning it after a moment. “I’m sorry for shouting.”
I couldn’t be sure if the apology was meant for me or Kat, but I let it count for something at least. Kat wiped at her eyes and sniffled, but the tears seemed to stop then.
Without needing much time to recover, Kat noticed the stuffed dolphin in the pile of toys and held it up. “Auntie Reina told me about the dolphins, and I want to see some. Can we?”
Grinning at her eagerness, I kneeled in front of her and nodded, rubbing my thumb against her cheek to catch the last of her tears. “We’ll go find some. Just daddy and Kat. How does that sound?”
Kat shook her head, clutching the dolphin to her chest. “Mommy too.”
Glancing over, I caught Mila’s smug smile, aware it was a small victory in her corner. My eyes closed instinctively to compose myself, and I released a discreet breath.
“You two get ready then. I’ll find where to go.”
“Come with me, Kat,” Mila said with a hand extended for Kat to take. Without another word, she took her mother’s hand and walked out of the room.
