Chapter 20 #4
“Snuggle bunny,” he cried as he wrapped her in a towel and lifted her from the tub to dry her off. He put her into her pajamas and carried her out to the living room.
“You two sounded like you were having fun,” Catherine said as she burped Derrick.
“We did,” Leo said, placing Grace on the floor. “I’ll get her noodles started. Do we have any broccoli?” he asked, heading into the kitchen.
“In the freezer,” she told him as she took Derrick to his crib.
“I’m done,” Melody said, coming into the kitchen.
“Good timing, the pizza will be here any minute. Can you get the paper plates and set them on the table for me?” Leo asked, enjoying spending time with his family.
“Do you have to work tonight, Dad?” Melody asked.
“Nope, I’m having a pajama party with you,” he said, ruffling her hair.
“I like it when you’re here. Mom doesn’t have to feed Grace and Derrick by herself,” Melody told him as she grabbed some napkins.
Leo smiled, but sadness crept in. How bad did he let it get when his nearly nine-year-old daughter saw his wife doing everything?
The doorbell rang, and Melody shouted, “The pizza’s here.”
Leo took out his wallet for the tip and grabbed the food. He set it in the kitchen while he strained the noodles and steamed some broccoli.
When Catherine returned, she carried everything into the living room. Melody sat beside her, and Leo took the other side, holding Grace.
Catherine placed a piece of pizza on a plate and handed it to him.
“No, you eat. I’ve got Grace,” he said, giving his daughter a piece of sausage.
Catherine turned on a children’s movie while they ate.
Grace stopped using her spoon, crammed her food in her mouth, and smiled at Leo.
He snapped a picture of her, grinning. He glanced over to see Melody leaning against Catherine as they watched the movie.
He snapped another photo of the two of them.
When they finished eating, Leo tucked Melody into bed and listened as she read a chapter of her book. He kissed her forehead. “I love you, June Bug,” he whispered.
“I love you, Dad,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him.
By the time he entered the living room, Catherine placed Grace in her bed. He kissed his little girl goodnight before following Catherine into their bedroom.
“Do you need me to do anything before I leave?” he asked.
“Nope, I know the drill,” she said as she removed her robe and donned a nightgown before getting into bed.
Leo pulled her close, and she rested her head against his shoulder.
“We didn’t get a chance to talk about the baby,” Leo whispered. “Have you given it any more thought?”
“What’s done is done,” Catherine said. “I don’t want to talk about this now. We have a ton to work out, and right now I want to feel your arms around me. We can’t have sex,” she said, sniffling.
“Is it why you saw Dr. Greene today?” he asked.
“Yes. I wanted to surprise you with the trip and asked her opinion. She says we need to wait a few more weeks. Hopefully by the time you return, everything will be back to normal,” she said, yawning.
“When I return, we’ll be doing things differently,” he vowed.
Catherine turned to her side and cupped his jaw. “I love you, Leo Armstrong. Don’t forget it. Come home to me. Come home to us,” she whispered.
Leo swiped the tears away with his thumb and kissed her gently.
“I’ll always fight my way home to you. I love you, Kit Kat.”
They held each other, making temporary peace until he returned.
At zero three hundred, he heard Derrick on the baby monitor, and he rolled out of bed.
He picked up his son, changed his diaper, and took him into the kitchen to warm his milk.
Heading into the nursery, Leo sat in the plush rocking chair and fed him the bottle.
“All right, son. I want you to behave for your mother. While you’re at it, stop fingerpainting in your poo, it’s disgusting.
If you keep doing it, you’ll earn a bad reputation as Derrick the doo-doo painter.
It’s not a good image for you. You’re an Armstrong.
We wear our name with pride. I love you, son,” he said as he burped him for the last time and rocked him asleep.
He returned to the kitchen to clean up his mess.
Noticing one of the many pacifiers on the table, he picked it up.
Grace’s barbell rattle lay on the counter next to the diaper bag.
He scooped them up to wash, then replaced them.
Leo walked by the refrigerator, noticing Melody’s drawing signed with her nickname.
Taking it from the fridge, he stared at all three items. An idea came to him, and he gathered the items, stuffing them into his go bag by the door.
Maybe they’d act like a magical talisman and help him figure out the traitor fast so he could return home.
Leo returned to his bedroom and slipped back in bed, pulling Kit Kat close.
She sighed and kissed his cheek. He lay in the dark, praying the feeling in his gut might go away by the time they landed.
Everything he treasured most lay under the same roof, safe and sound.
Something inside told him this might be the last time.