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“It does, I don’t want you to think that I did this on purpose. I was distracted.”
“I would never think that.” I try putting her mind at ease.
“But this is my fault. Things like this keep proving that I’m still not adjusted to the real world. Any other woman would have thought about that kinda thing. I’m such a—”
“I’m glad ya didn’t think of it. I’m glad I misunderstood and thought those pills were for birth control. I’m glad I didn’t put on a rubber and I’m glad we’re havin’ a little black dot.” I cut her off before she has a meltdown.
“Me too,” she takes a few seconds to admit, holding back an adorable smile from me.
“Mom,” I hear Charlie call out from his room.
“I’ll go, you try and get some more sleep. Sleep’s important.” I point my finger at her as I drag myself up and pull on some sweats.
“You sure?” she asks, yawning as she cozies her head back onto the pillow.
“Absolutely sure. Me and Charlie need to have a man-to-man anyway.” I wink, reaching over to kiss her before I go sort Charlie out some breakfast.
“Mornin’.” I ruffle his hair the way I always do as I pass him on the chair he’s claimed as his since he came here, I grab us both a bowl and place the cereal and milk between us before I sit down myself.
“I gotta leave for a day or two, can I rely on you to take care of your mom and this place for me?” I watch him tip the cereal box and half-fill his bowl.
“Sure.” He nods back.
“That’s what I like to hear.” I take the box when he offers it and pour some for myself, while he uses all his energy to lift the milk and tip it into his bowl.
“I heard you asked your mom who your dad was a few nights ago.” I figure now's as good a time as any to bring this up too.
Charlie drops his head like he’s about to get scolded.
“Hey, don’t look like that, there ain’t nothin’ wrong in wantin’ to know where you came from.” His head lifts back up, and the timid smile he makes back at me warms my chest.
“Kids back at school sometimes ask but I just ignore them. Don’t ever know what to say.” He shrugs.
“Well, how about the next time those kids ask, you tell ‘em that I’m your dad?” I test the water and feel a real sense of pride when that smile on his lips rises all the way up to his eyes.
“Can I?”
“I’d really like it if you did.” I nod my head
“I never had a dad before. And you're way cooler than some of the dads that pick up from school.” His voice gets louder and more excited with each syllable.
“Do I get to call you Dad too?” he asks, dripping milk from his lips as he munches on his cereal.
“You can call me anythin’ you like, kid.”
“I think I’d like to call you Dad or Pa, not Daddy though, that’s for babies.”
“Whatever you decide.” I chuckle, relieved at how happy it’s made him.
Yeah, this is real soon, but I’m rolling with the start-as-I mean-to-go-on approach. I never want Charlie to feel different to our kid. I want me and him to be solid before it gets here so he knows he’ll never be less important to me.
“Thanks, Skid…” He quickly shakes his head. “I meanDad.” The smile on his face is infectious. I hold my spoon out like a sword, waiting for him to tap it with his before I dig into my breakfast.
* * *
Addison is up and fresh out the shower when the door knocks and Tommy slowly opens it to let himself in.
“Mornin’.” He looks a little taken back when he catches me kissin’ her on her way back through to the bedroom. Guess it must be a little strange for everyone around here to see me happy with someone that ain’t Carly. I think they all started to believe it was never gonna happen as much as I did.
