I study him to see if there is any hesitation on his part. I’m in deep with all three of them, and the last thing I want to do is step on Grayson’s toes or make him feel as though I’m trying to play the role of mom. Not that I would mind that. In fact, when I think about the future, it’s the three of us, and I am their mother figure. It’s important to me that we take this at his pace and theirs. The last thing I want is for any of them, hell any of us, to get hurt.
Slow and steady wins the race.
I find the girls in their room, pajamas in hand. “Ready, ladies?”
“Yes!” They race past me into their bathroom and begin to strip out of their clothes. I start the water and toss in some bubbles, making them giggle. By the time Grayson joins us, we’re draining the water, and the girls have towels draped around their bodies.
“Just in time.” I smile up at him from where I’m kneeling next to the bathtub.
He and I work together to get the girls dressed and ready for bed.
“Waken, can you bwaid our hair?” Harlow asks.
“Of course I can.”
“Mine too,” Hayden insists.
“Come here.” I pat between my legs from my spot on Harlow’s bed. She wastes no time settling in front of me, letting me get to work on braiding her hair.
“I wove bwaids,” Harlow says.
“Me too,” Hayden agrees.
“Well, I like braiding your hair, so I think we’re even.” When I finish with Harlow, she climbs onto Hayden’s bed with Grayson while I braid Hayden's hair. The girls talk about how they love making pizzas and cookies, and we even laugh about the slipping and sliding we did in the bubbles.
“You’re done,” I tell Hayden.
“Daddy, will you wead to us?” Hayden asks.
“Yes. Get in bed, and I’ll grab a book.”
I stand to leave.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“I’m just going to go get ready for bed. Give you three some time.”
“You don’t have to,” he says quickly.
“I know.” I smile at him. “Girls, can I have a goodnight hug?” Without hesitation, they wrap their arms around me one at a time. “Thank you. Those were big hugs. Goodnight, ladies.” I wave and head out of their room.
“Daddy, we wove Waken,” one of them says. I don’t know who because I’m not looking at them, but it doesn’t matter when the “Me too, Daddy” is echoed.
“I love her too,” Grayson tells them. “Now, get in bed, monkeys.”
I smile and retreat to his room, my heart full. I take my time brushing my teeth and getting changed for bed. Today has been the best day. I love spending time with the three of them, and I can’t help but hope that this is my future. Saturday evenings at home with my family. I want them to be mine.
Turning off the bathroom light, I step into the bedroom just as Grayson enters. “Hey, are they asleep?”
“Yeah.” He smiles. “Must have been all of the bubble skating.” He chuckles.
“Hey, they had fun, and it turned a bad situation into a positive one.”
“You are the positive in our lives. You know that, right?”
“I know that the three of you are the light in my day, my night, my week, hell my life.” I smile up at him.
He snakes his arms around my waist and pulls me close. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Go get ready for bed. I’m ready for some cuddle time.”
“Cuddle time?”
“Yep.” I grin at him.
“Baby, I’m going to cuddle the hell out of you.” He winks and disappears into the bathroom.
Chapter 22
Grayson
Slamming my office door, I run my fingers through my hair. Today’s run was heart-wrenching and so much like the tragedy of my past. It doesn’t matter how much time passes. Anytime we have to respond to a vehicle crash, my muscles constrict, and my nerves are shot.
Memories of that night and the phone call. The screams. The night I lost my wife and my sister-in-law. They always come rushing back on days like today, and for the life of me, I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t know how not to picture them when I pull up to a scene.
Usually, when I see that those involved are okay, I can channel it to helping them. Today, however, the outcome was tragic.
Sitting in my chair, I try to get some work done, but I can’t seem to focus. Maybe I should walk over and see Laken. I want to wrap my arms around her and feel her breathe against my neck. I need to know that she’s alive and well. I reach for my cell phone in my pocket just as it rings. I see Mom’s name and immediate worry for my daughters takes over. “Mom.”