I don’t say anything. I just shake my head, trying to make him see that I’m not his father. But before I say anything, Allison comes outside, slamming the door, making the windows rattle.
“Matthew, can you make me pancakes?” She stands slanted with her hands on her tiny hips.
“Allison, what did Mom say?” He turns to walk to her, picking her up. She looks down and whispers something to him that I can’t hear. Whatever it is makes him lean down and blow bubbles onto her, setting her off on a giggling fit.
“Let’s go inside and see what Mom really wants to eat for dinner.” He looks over at me. “Cooper, you coming?” I know he doesn’t trust me. I know he’s still leery of me, but it’s an olive branch, and I’m going to grab onto it and never let it go.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Cooper
The dishes have been cleared off the table. A dim light from the kitchen illuminates the way to the couch where we are sitting watching Frozen again. Thoughts are running through my mind of accidentally scratching the DVD.
Just as I’ve already thought of the crime, a little blond head falls into my lap, her bouncy curls covering half of her face. I smooth my hand over her hair, watching her cute little pout while she slides deeper into her slumber.
Looking over, I see that her mom has also curled up her head, resting on the arm of the couch. She looks thinner. With her eyes closed, she looks peaceful. If she is anything like me, she barely slept in the last four days. Just being here, next to her, it’s like I’m home. It’s crazy how one person can bring you that much peace.
I look up just as Matthew comes back downstairs, looking at the TV and then at us.
“I can’t wait till another movie comes out, then I’m going to bury that movie in the backyard after I break it in pieces, just in case,” he says while going into the kitchen to get himself something to drink.
Coming back, he looks at me. “So are you spending the night or are you sneaking out early?” This kid is too smart for his own good.
“I’m spending the night. The whole night. I’ve been away from her for four days. I’m not doing it again. Now that you know how I feel about your mom, I hope that this is okay?” I’m asking his permission, but yes or no, I’m not leaving. I’ll sleep in my car before I leave.
“Okay. You want me to carry Allison up?” he asks, always willing to take care of his sister.
“No, I’m good, I’m going to carry her up first and then come back and get your mom.”
He says nothing more, just nods and turns to walk upstairs. Getting up and carrying Allison upstairs, I place her softly in her bed, covering her up, and kissing her on her forehead. I’ve fallen in love with her mother, and this little girl that has captured my heart as much as her mom.
After she is tucked in and is sleeping like a starfish, I go in search of my other girl. Creeping down the stairs quietly as to not wake her up, I gently pick her up. I want to just sit with her in my arms. I want to smell her. It’s weird how before I didn’t have the need to always think of someone else besides myself, and now all I think about is her before me.
When I finally make my way to her room, I pull the covers down, placing her under it. Turning around, I go downstairs, making sure everything is closed and stopping at Matthew’s door. Knocking once, I open and let him know we are heading to bed. He doesn’t answer and just nods.
Making my way to the bed, all I see is her small body curled up in a ball. She hasn’t moved since I placed her in the bed. Getting under the covers, I reach out for her, pulling her close to me. No way am I sleeping without touching her.
Once I have her in my arms, she curves into me and adjusts herself to me, throwing her legs over mine. I release the breath I had been holding in since I pulled her into me. With my arms around her, I close my eyes and let the past four sleepless nights catch up to me, bringing me down into a deep sleep.
When I open my eyes, I blink twice to adjust my eyes to the light seeping in. I don’t think I moved positions the whole night. We are exactly in the same place we were last night. The only thing is Parker is up because she is making soft circles on my chest. She must feel me looking at her because she looks up at me.