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Genevieve’s voice was soft, if not a bit tentative. Because he was here and it made her uncomfortable. She normally came alone and talked to her best friend as if she stood by her side, chatting away like old times.
“She’s close to walking,” he blurted.
Genevieve looked startled that he spoke. He surprised himself. He told himself he could never forgive her for abandoning their daughter as she had, but his brother had made good points. She had done the best thing she could as a mother. The best decision. The hardest choice he imagined.
He continued. “She loves nursery rhymes and she loves talking. Well, screaming and squealing in excitement is her form of talking, although she is calling me da-da, which is the coolest thing every time I hear it. I even heard her call Genevieve ma-ma, which—” he cut himself off.
He hadn’t meant to reveal that. By the way she stiffened next to him, she hadn’t wanted him to know.
“I know you gave birth to Amelie and that makes you her mother in a way.” Without looking, he grabbed Genevieve’s hand and slid his fingers through hers, linking them together. In more ways than just physical. “But I only see Genevieve as her mother.”
She inhaled sharply next to him.
His heart pounded as if Melanie stood in front of him, hearing his words, poised and ready to slap him for everything he was saying.
“When I heard Amelie call her ma-ma, it was one of the best feelings I ever felt. She is the best mother to my little girl. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
He lifted their hands and met Genevieve’s gaze, kissing the back of her hand. “I don’t say that because of Amelie. I’d be lost without you. For no other reason but how you make me feel. You keep me sane when I want to go crazy. You keep me on the straight and narrow when there are days I want to numb the pain. You brighten my days and nights, especially on the days I deal with nothing but shitty people. You make waking up a must and I look forward to the adventures we have. You’re not just Amelie’s mom to me. You’re my everything. And I love you.”
Genevieve gasped, her eyes rounding.
He kissed her hand again, harder, hoping to spread his love from him straight into her. So she could feel it. Absorb it. Believe it.
“I’m sorry for the past two months that I haven’t shown you how much I love you. I’m sorry that we drifted apart and I don’t even know why. I’m sorry you felt the need to hide this part of yourself from me. If you want to visit Melanie and for us to come with, then we will. She’s a part of you and I don’t want to take that away. She’s a part of Amelie and I won’t ignore that anymore.”
A slow, beautiful smile spread across her lips, then she rushed forward and kissed him. It didn’t last long because Amelie leaned forward too, brushing her wet lips on his cheeks as if she didn’t want to be left out of the fun.
“I love you, too, you big dummy. That’s all I ever wanted to hear.”
Well, the words were hard to voice. He couldn’t be positive how often he’d be able to say them, but he said those three little words now and that should suffice for a while. He hoped, anyway.
The tension, the distance between them, evaporated. It was like the huge weight sitting on his shoulders was shoved off and he could breathe again.
Genevieve started talking, telling Melanie all the things Amelie had been doing since her last visit. He squeezed her hand in encouragement, comfort, letting her know he was there in support and would always be there. No matter how difficult it might be for him. She continued speaking until she had said everything she wanted.
When they arrived at the bar, Jezebelle said she’d watch Amelie as they decorated for the party. They hung pink and white streamers, along with a huge sign that said ‘Happy 1st birthday Amelie’, and white and pink balloons all around the room.
They had trays of fruits and vegetables, little ham and turkey sandwiches, and because he insisted, bowls of chips. There was juice and milk, plus a variety of soda, wine, and beer to pick from. They pushed the tables and chairs toward the walls, keeping the middle of the room open. It’d give Amelie space, along with a few other kiddos coming to roam free and play without knocking into something.
People started to arrive, joy and laughter filling the room. The happiness in Genevieve’s eyes was real, not forced for the first time that day. Oh, she thought she hid her emotions well, but he could always see the phoniness behind it all. After all, he was a master himself at faking shit.
When it came time for the birthday cake, they buckled Amelie into her high chair and let her loose with a six-inch cake of her own. She dug in with gusto, making a huge mess. He’d be washing cake out of her hair for days. But whatever. If it made his little girl happy, then he was happy. Throughout the party, he made sure to take pictures as often as he could. He needed to capture every moment. Every smile. Every laughter. Every beautiful thing about the day. Because his little girl only turned one once.
“Leave it.” He wound his arms around Genevieve and pulled her away from the food table where she was organizing and cleaning things up. His lips hit her neck, lingering longer than he should in a room full of people.
“People are leaving. I thought I’d clean up some.”
“You’ve done so much today. It was a success. You deserve a break.” He twirled her around until she faced him, then wrapped his arms around her, cocooning her in his embrace. If she wanted to break free, she’d have to fight him. The glittering in her eyes said she didn’t want to.
“Amelie is going to pass out early, especially from all the sugar. She’ll be in a sugar coma.”
Genevieve giggled. “Most likely.”
“I’ve missed you.” He kissed her. “I’ve missed touching you.” The second kiss lasted longer than the first. “I need you.” This kiss deepened to territories that would get him in trouble if he didn’t stop.
“Tonight I’m all yours.”
“Correction.” He pressed into her, letting her feel how hard he was for her. “Every day and night you’re all mine. Every moment. Every second. Every breathe you take, mine, mine, mine.”
