When We Touch

“I love your mommy.”

“Oh,” I whisper as emotion hits my chest like a wave, sweeping all my fears away in its wake.

It’s the first time he’s said it since he returned. All through last night, the words rose in my mind, loud and insistent, but for whatever reason, they never made it to my lips. Now he stands here declaring it to my daughter, and I’m blinking fast, trying not to cry.

Coco’s frown softens, but she’s still watching him. “I love my mommy.”

He looks up at me, and when he sees my expression, his smile grows a little wider. “Can we both love your mommy?”

Her rosebud lips press together, and she looks at me. I can’t help smiling at her careful consideration of the question. She looks over at Jackson again, and after a few more seconds, she answers. “Tommy Johnson said he loved me at school…”

That catches my attention. “He did? When did that happen?”

She nods, looking up at me, her brown eyes round and serious. “Granny said he’s naughty. He isn’t allowed to say that.”

I’m immediately suspicious, but my daughter continues her preschool logic. “Are you naughty?”

“I try not to be,” Jackson says, and I can see he’s also trying not to laugh. “Would you like to see the room I made for you?”

Coco’s entire demeanor changes so fast, it’s my turn to swallow a laugh. “Is it a princess room?” she asks.

“Better.” He holds out his hands, and she reaches for him.

I stand back and watch as the man of my dreams carries my baby girl on his hip away from the kitchen and toward his small art studio. I follow behind them, curious as well. Jackson wouldn’t even let me see what he’d done after he left me this afternoon.

When they get to the door, he stops. “It’s an entire kingdom.”

She hops out of his arms and dashes inside squealing. I step up behind him, and my jaw drops. A twin bed is centered against the wall, and a loop is attached to the ceiling above, allowing cascades of sparkly aqua chiffon to float around the edges. Mermaid decals are on the walls, and the existing beachy décor has been incorporated into an underwater scene perfect for a little girl.

“I’m a mermaid!” She climbs onto the bed a

nd lifts her arms under the netting. “I’m Ariel.”

Jackson goes to where she’s standing, surrounded by aqua chiffon. “You’re better than Ariel. You’d never trade your voice for a boy.”

“She traded her voice for legs!” Coco argues. “She wanted to run all day in the sun.”

“Well, you’re Coco the Princess of Atlantia, and all the sea creatures do whatever you say.”

She stops bouncing, eyes wide. “Atlantia?”

“It’s your underwater world,” he continues. “You can sleep all night here, and you’ll be safe and protected by your magical creatures.”

“What are my magical creatures?” she whispers, and I lean against the doorjamb completely captivated.

“What are your favorite kinds?”

“Mermaids…” Her little eyes move around the room. “Goldfish and seahorses.”

“They’ll all keep you safe and warm while you sleep.”

“I want to sleep now.”

“Have you brushed your teeth?”

She dashes out of the room to the hall bathroom where a little cup sits with her toddler-sized toothbrush.

I give him an amazed grin. “How?”