Only With Me (With Me 2)

“She likes the rice cereal,” my mother said.

Katerina shook her head. “She doesn’t. Look at her. She wants the Greek yogurt.”

My mother sighed. “Katerina, you’re only saying that because it has the word Greek in it. If I were to tell you this is Greek cereal, you’d be all over it.”

I attempted to hide my smile. My mother and Katerina had become the best of friends. Competitive as hell in the kitchen, but best friends none the less.

“So glad your parents decided to move here,” Charity said as she handed her son, Mick, a cracker then watched him wander back over to the pile of toys on the floor.

When my parents found out I was pregnant, they decided they had missed enough in my life. Three months later they sold their place in New Jersey and moved to Colorado Springs. They loved it here and my brother Antonio and his wife Kate weren’t too far behind. They lived in Denver though, since the FBI office was there.

“Me too,” I said with a chuckle.

“Why don’t you mix the yogurt into the cereal?” I said with a smile.

Both of them looked at me like I had lost my damn mind.

“I know the idea of compromise is something neither of you know, but my daughter is hungry.”

Morgan was opening and closing her mouth each time the spoon came within reach of her.

“Oh, my sweet baby girl. Let Nonna feed you your yummy cereal.”

Katerina reached over and dumped the Greek yogurt into the cereal, causing Morgan to laugh. She then leaned over and said, “Morgan, your Yiayia will not let you starve.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as they both took turns spooning food into Morgan’s mouth.

Nic and Cole walked in and both stopped to look at the sight before them.

“Since when does she need two people feeding her at one time?” Nic asked with a chuckle.

“Hush,” Katerina said.

Cole leaned down and gave Charity a kiss. “Hey,” he softly said as she gave him a warm smile.

I couldn’t help but smile every time I looked at how happy the two of them were. They’d gotten married this past summer in a beautiful wedding up in the mountains. Phoebe had been itching to get back into cake decorating and had done Charity and Cole’s cakes. I loved the Italian cream cake so much I offered her a position at the bakery as our cake decorator. For years I’d had people asking me if I did cakes for weddings and showers. I never had the time. But with how well the bakery was doing, and Phoebe’s desire to get back to work, she jumped on it. She could bring Michael to work with her anytime since we had turned half of the office into a playroom slash nursery.

Nic walked up to Morgan and bent down. Her smile grew so big my heart nearly leapt from my chest.

“Hey, agapiméni.” Morgan kicked her feet and reached for Nic.

“No! She is eating!” Katerina said as Nic lifted Morgan out of her highchair.

“Well, right now she wants her daddy.”

Morgan pressed her face against Nic’s, covering him in yogurt cereal.

“Well, at least I won’t have to worry about you being a good kisser with the boys.”

I watched as Nic walked out of the room with Morgan. Softly talking to her, he held her attention like he always did. It was as if she was as mesmerized by him. Just like I was.

“You know what she is thinking, don’t you?” Charity asked.

Shaking my head, I said, “No, what?”

“Damn, my daddy is one good looking Greek bastard.”

Turning, I hit Charity on the arm.

“So, when are we going to introduce her to Liv?”

Groaning, I looked back over to where Nic was holding Morgan close to him as they danced. She leaned her head against his chest and smiled. Like everything she ever wanted in this world she had right there. My heart melted on the spot.

“Don’t act like you don’t have mad love for Olivia. Spread it to your daughter.”

“The only thing I want to do right now is soak in this moment.”

Charity stood and bent down to pick up Mick.

“Fine, but this conversation is not over. I will have my niece loving ONJ by her first birthday.”

I ignored Charity as I got up and made my way into the living room where I leaned against the wall and watched my husband and daughter get totally lost in each other.

When his eyes met mine, he smiled and my stomach dropped. He then motioned for me to join them. As I walked up to them, I froze the memory in my brain. My stomach fluttered, and I never felt so happy in my entire life.

Nic pulled me to him as Morgan lifted her hand and put it on me. It was as if she knew how special this moment was.