Chapter 30
Thirty
“ I brushded my teef, Dad,” Katy called from the hallway.
“Good job, Katy. Go in and get your jammies on.”
“Otay.”
John turned back to the box he was helping Abby unpack. She was busy squirreling away some clothes in his dresser, and he was having a hard time taking his eyes off of her. Was it weird that he hated the idea of her not needing to borrow things from him anymore? He resolved, at home, he’d make sure she only wore his clothes.
“Don’t even think about it, John.”
“What?” he asked innocently.
“I see the wheels turning over there. Do not touch my clothes. If they go missing and I have to spend all my time in your clothes, you’re going to be in big trouble.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he laughed. “Well, at least I’d leave your lacy things alone.”
“Mhm. You are trouble.”
“Wait, I thought you loved my shirts?”
“I do, but I also want to be the one to decide when I slip into them. It’s no fun if I can’t be the one surprising you.”
He smiled, holding his hand up to his ear. “Oh, is that my daughter calling? I think she’s ready for me to put her to bed.”
“Smooth.”
He laughed as he took off down the hallway. Katy was standing by her bookshelf, a baby doll wrapped tightly in her arms.
“Hey there, ladybug. Are you ready to go to sleep?”
“Not you, Daddy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want you! I want Mommy! Mommy has to do night nights!!”
He’d been waiting for the meltdown. His sweet girl had held it all together so well up until then. But the change with Abby was big, and probably very overwhelming, even with her being happy about it.
“Katy, I’m going to put you to bed like we always do, okay? But Abby can come in before you go to sleep.”
He watched as Katy’s face turned bright red, her doll dropping to the floor as she stomped her feet over to her bed.
“I WANT MY MOMMY!! I WANT MY MOMMY!!!”
“I WANT MY MOMMY!!”
“Katy! You do not speak to me like that.” John’s flustered voice traveled into their room.
“I WANT MY MOM! I WANT MY MOM!! I WANT HER! I DON’T WANT YOU!!”
Abby ran down the hallway, stopping at Katy’s door.
“What’s going on in here? I thought you were going to sleep, Katy. It’s time for quiet, not shouting.”
“I want you to put me to bed, Mommy.”
John’s whole body went stiff on the bed and Abby felt her heart flutter in her chest.
“Katy… Abby isn’t. I mean, Abby may one day…” he groaned, rubbing his hand down his face.
“John, would you mind waiting out in the hall for one minute? I think Katy and I need to have a girl chat.”
“Girl chat?” he asked as he stood up from the small castle themed bed.
“Yes,” Abby whispered as she put her hand on his chest. “I think today, with me moving in, has been confusing.”
“Okay. I’ll be down the hall if you need me.”
“Alright sweet pea.” Katy’s curly hair was splayed out in an adorable circle around her head. “Were you just shouting for me?”
“Yes. I want you to put me to night-nights.”
“Did you call me mommy?”
Katy nodded. “You’re my mommy now. Mommies live with daddies. You told Grammy you live with daddy. So, you’re my mommy now, right?”
Out of the mouth of babes. Abby felt her whole chest ache with how much she loved Katy. There was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to be this little girl’s mom, more than anything in the whole world, but she wouldn’t overstep the boundary before John made it clear that it was okay.
“You are right. I do live with you and your daddy now. And that is so exciting and I’m already so happy here. But, being a mommy is the most special thing in the whole entire world. It’s the biggest accomplishment I could ever achieve.” Katy’s eyes widened as she looked up at Abby.
“Just like being a teacher takes a lot of time and dedication, or like how your dad’s job as a deputy takes a lot of time and dedication, being a parent is even more demanding than that. It’s really important that everyone in our family is ready for that when it happens. You need to want me to be your mommy, but your dad has to also want me to be your mommy.”
“Do you want to be my mommy?”
“With my whole heart, sweet pea. Remember when we wished on stars earlier?”
“Yeah, I wisheded for you and Daddy to kiss, cause when princes kiss princesses, they fall in love.”
“Well, I’ll let you in on a secret. I already love your dad a whole lot.”
“You do?”
“Yep. And you want to know something else?” Abby leaned down and pressed a kiss to Katy’s forehead. “I already love you a whole lot, too. That’s why part of my wish was about becoming your mommy one day.”
“Really?”
“Mhm. But it’s not just as simple as wishing on a star. I want to spend some time showing you and your dad exactly the type of mommy I’d be if you decided to have me as a part of your family forever.”
“Otay.”
“So, while we figure it out, we can have days where we bake cookies, and watch princess movies together. We can go on picnics with your dad, and spend time with your grammy and grampy. We’ll work together to become a family. How does that sound?”
Katy’s whole face lit up. “Fun!!”
“There’s just one really important thing I want you to remember. No matter what, no matter how much time goes by, if you get to call me mommy next week or if it never happens, I want you to know that I will always love you, Katy. With my whole heart.”
“Otay.”
“Okay. Can I sneak a hug?”
Abby held her arms out as Katy sat up, wrapping her little arms around her waist. She let go, her body falling back down on the pillows.
“I know I can’t call you mommy yet, but I love you just like I’d love a mommy.”
Abby sat silently for a moment, gently stroking Katy’s hair as she let the little girl’s words wash over her heart.
“Are you ready to go to sleep now?”
“Yes,” Katy said through a big yawn.
“Alright. I’ll let your dad know he can come back in and give you kisses. Sweet dreams, kiddo.”
“Abby?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“You do my princess hair in the morning?”
“Of course I will, sweet pea.”
“I love you, Abby.”
“I love you too, Katy.” Abby fought to keep her voice steady as she turned the lamp off next to the bed. She walked quietly into the hallway, just in time to fall apart as strong arms wrapped around her.
“I hope I didn’t overstep,” she sniffled into John’s shirt.
“Baby, you handled it perfectly.”