Only One Kiss (Only One 1)
Chapter 5CandaceI lock the door behind Evan and Zara, then walk back to the bedroom to make sure that Zoey is still sleeping. I wish I could crawl into bed after a nice shower, but I know that if I do that, I’ll only be thinking about the mess waiting for me in the kitchen.
Walking back into the kitchen, I see that Caroline and Zara put away as much as they could, so I clean up the rest of the mess. As I’m putting the stuff away, I notice the baby bottles in the fridge. I smile as I pick up a bottle, then walk over to my phone and send Justin a text.
Me: Hey, by any chance do you have Ralph’s number? He forgot his baby bottles here.
Pressing send, I walk back to Zoey’s room and hear her soft snore. I turn on the baby monitor and carry it with me into my room. I take a quick shower, and when I’m drying off, my phone beeps. Looking down, I see that it’s a text from Justin.
Justin: I just texted him so I’ll let you know what he says.
Me: Sounds good.
I put the phone down and slide into my big bed, and I’m about to fall asleep when I hear Zoey call for me. I get up and walk to her room, seeing her standing in her crib. “What’s the matter, Angel?” I ask, picking her up. “Do you want to sleep in my big bed?”
“Yeah,” she says, putting her head on my shoulder. When I walk back into my room, I make a whole pillow wall on the side of the bed and then get the kid rail from my closet and slip it on to make sure she doesn’t fall off. She sleeps all over the bed, and when I get kicked in the face, I groan and open my eyes. Looking over, I see the sun starting to peek in, so I lie still for a bit, wondering if I’m going to go back to sleep. But I know I won’t, so I get up and quietly make my way down to the kitchen. Starting the coffee, I open all the blinds, then walk to my office and grab my laptop and agenda. I peek in to make sure Zoey is still okay and put pillows on the other side of her where I was sleeping, and she doesn’t budge. Once I make my cup of coffee, I open my laptop and start going down my list one by one, doing my posts for the week.
When I hear a thud and then the sound of feet running, I look up and see that Zoey is up. “Auntie CanCan.” She runs over to me, and I open my arms for her to crawl into my lap. “You working?” she asks, pushing the hair away from her face as she leans into me.
“I am.” I kiss her head. “Did you sleep okay?” I tuck her hair behind her ears as she nods. “Are you hungry?”
“Can we have pancakes?” She smiles. “Banana and strawberry.” I kiss her cheek and bring her to me getting up. “Can I help?” She runs over to her step stool that I had made for her when she was here last time. She drags it over to the counter and places it against it. Stepping up on the stool now putting her hands on the counter. “I’m ready.”
“Okay,” I say, walking and getting the stuff ready for her. I stand with her and we make pancakes and I put bacon in the oven. “I’m going to put on your show and cook your pancakes.”
“Okay,” she says, turning round, and I hold her hand as she climbs down. I wipe her hands and then carry her to the couch.
“Can I have some milk?” she asks after I put her on the couch and turn on her show. I walk to the kitchen, grabbing her sippy cup, and then head to the fridge. I smile when I see the baby bottles right in front of where Zoey’s whole milk is. I pour some milk in her cup and then take it to her. She grabs it and then watches her show while lying down. I make her pancakes, and when she finishes them, she has sticky hands, and I laugh when her tongue comes out to lick the syrup from her face. The doorbell rings. “Don’t move,” I say, grabbing a wet cloth and cleaning her hands and face. Then there is a knock on the door. “Go sit on the couch,” I say, walking to the front door. I unlock the front door, pulling it open and never expecting the sight in front of me.
Ralph stands there wearing shorts and a T-shirt, his hair falling on to his forehead. My mouth opens, and then I see he’s holding Ariella and she’s hanging onto his shirt with one hand. “Well, hello there, pretty girl,” I say, smiling at her, and she gets all excited and moves her hands and her feet.