Since we first told her about it, I guess. For the past four months, my baby girl has been living in fear that she’d lose Octavia, like she lost her mom.
Why didn’t I see this? Why didn’t I sit her down to find out the problem?
Stop.
I could worry at this like a dog with a bone forever. Now I know. Now I will talk to her.
Splashing noises and giggles come from inside the bathroom. I lean back, against the pillows, and close my eyes. My head is full of static. The sleepless night I passed and the stress of meeting Ross afterward is taking its toll on me.
I’m dozing off, almost asleep, when a small body slams into mine, and small hands pat my cheeks. “Daddy.”
“Cole,” I mutter, grinning. “What’s up, buddy?”
“Missed you,” he says, and curls up beside me. He smells of baby powder and little boy.
“Missed you, too.” I crack one eye to check on the bathroom. The splashing noises haven’t stopped yet. “How was it these past few days? Did the girls drive you crazy?”
He giggles. “Yeah.”
“I feel you.”
“But I like girls,” he says seriously.
“You and me both, buddy.”
“I’ll marry one someday.”
I glance sideways at him. “Okay. Thanks for the heads-up.”
“She will be pretty, like Mom, and Octavia, and Gigi.”
My fucking heart twists. “You got good taste, man, I’ll give you that.”
He settles back, smirking. “But I won’t have a beard like you. I don’t like beards.”
“Fair enough.”
“Dad, is the baby a boy like me? I want a brother.”
“I told you, Cole. We don’t know yet.” We didn’t want to find out if it’s a girl or a boy in advance. “Another sister would also be cool, too, right?”
He shrugs, not looking convinced. “Sure.”
He’s so damn funny, my son. I hug him a little harder. “I’m happy you’re here, Cole. You, and your sister, Octavia and the baby that’s coming… Gigi and Merc, Grandma and Gran.”
“Yeah.”
“Now the girls will come get dressed, and we’ll go downstairs have lunch, and talk.”
“What about?”
“The baby. You. Mary. Us. How we’ll be together no matter what, because we are a family, and we take care of each other.”
“I like that.” He grins up at me.
“Me too, Cole. Me too.”
Chapter Sixteen