Chapter 3 #2
“Can we call a truce?” he asked, sighing.
“Do you want to carry this baby? Then, we’ll call it a truce. I’ve spent the last two hours going between hunger and morning sickness. Yesterday, I breastfed Derrick while holding a vomit bag. It’s a ton of fun,” she bit out.
“I’m sorry you’re not having an easy time of it. I came to make your day run more smoothly.” He picked up the bouquet and handed it to her. “Here,” he said gently. “I brought you something Ty says will stay down during morning sickness.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, almost emotionless.
“While you eat, I’ll visit with the kids and feed them. Then you’ll take a nap while I pick Melody up from school this afternoon,” he offered. “I miss June Bug.”
“I don’t want your ass-kissing, Leo,” Kit Kat sighed.
“You haven’t let me stay at the house since Christmas Eve, other than to see the kids before they go to bed.
Melody’s getting older. Don’t you think she notices Daddy’s not around in the mornings anymore?
We need to talk this out,” he reasoned. “How about Jake and Carol watch the kids, and we have a nice dinner out?”
Kit Kat stared at him, debating his proposal.
“Come on, I have a nice surprise lined up for you,” he cajoled softly.
She sighed. “Flowers, dinner, and surprises won’t fix this, Leo. I’m still angry with you.”
“I know you’re furious. We can’t solve anything by avoiding it and not letting me sleep at home,” he admitted. “We’re spinning up soon, and I don’t want us fighting. It’s not good for the kids or us.”
“What’s in the bag?” she said, making him grin. It wasn’t necessarily an olive branch, but it got her talking to him.
“A soup of some kind. Ty says it’s full of nutritious stuff and stays down,” he said, opening the package and handing her the container and a spoon. He pulled out water and added an electrolyte packet. “Drink this. It’ll help with all the vomiting.”
Kit Kat took a hesitant taste on the spoon before moaning. “Mmm, this tastes good,” she said, getting another spoonful.
“You eat while I see to the kids, and I’ll pick you up for dinner and a surprise later. Do we have a deal?” he asked.
“Fine,” she said, sitting back in her desk chair and enjoying the soup. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Kit Kat,” he said before walking into the nursery.
As soon as Gracie saw him, her hands raised up and she squealed, “Daddy.” He picked her up, tossing her high in the air. How did she grow this fast? It seemed like a hot minute when her head fit in the palm of his hand. The red curls framed her face, making her a miniature version of his wife.
“How’s my Gracie girl? I’ve missed you,” he said, covering her face with kisses and tickling her with his scruff on her belly, making her giggle.
“Book,” she said, pointing to the caterpillar story, her favorite.
“We have to eat first. What did Aunt Avie order for lunch today?” he asked, walking farther into the room. Avie set the lunch trays on the table, with cut-up grilled cheese and baby carrots.
“Hi, Leo. I didn’t expect to see you today. Your little mini-me has wreaked havoc in the nursery today. No one can use her toys. We’re working on sharing.”
“Did my Gracie not want to share? We always have each other’s six, ya got that?” he chastised. “Let’s sit and eat before your brother wakes up.”
“Too late,” Avie told him. “He’s waiting for Catherine to feed him.”
“Kit Kat’s taking a private lunch. Point me to where you keep the breast milk, and I’ll bottle-feed him today,” Leo said, placing Gracie on her little chair.
“Daddy will be back. Eat your carrots while I get your baby brother.” Leo picked Derrick up, held him close to his chest, and kissed his head.
“Hello, son. Have you given Avie trouble today, too?”
“He’s teething, and his naps get shorter by the day. Catherine has her hands full,” Avie said as she handed him a bottle. “Go enjoy lunch with the kids.”
Leo sat beside Gracie, who stacked her grilled-cheese triangles and smooshed her carrots into smithereens.
“Gracie, eat. Don’t play with your food,” he reminded her as he adjusted Derrick and gave him the bottle.
Gracie threw a carrot across the table and clapped her hands.
“No, baby girl. It’s not nice. Go pick up your food and say you’re sorry. ”
Gracie’s forehead and nose crinkled up as she threw a full-blown tantrum.
“Grace,” Avie said calmly. “Please pick up your carrot and go to the thinking chair for two minutes,” she said, setting a timer. “We don’t throw food.”
Grace wailed at the top of her lungs as she rose and picked up her food. Her arms went around the little boy she threw them at, and she squeezed him to her. “Sowwy,” she said before walking to the corner.
She sat in the chair and held her arms out, crying, “Daddy.”
The urge to rescue his baby girl grew strong, but the strong shake of Avie’s head and her firm voice made him stay seated. “Stay seated, Grace, or your time will start all over,” she reminded her. “We can’t throw good food when it makes us grow.”
Leo placed a hand on his forehead, and Grace wailed the entire two minutes before Avie let her rise.
“Please don’t throw our food,” Avie said calmly. “We need it in our bellies,” she said, poking Grace’s tummy. “Then, you’ll grow muscles like your daddy.”
“I not frow dem again,” Grace said resolutely.
“Then you may sit and eat your lunch like a big girl,” Avie encouraged, smiling at his daughter.
“You’re good at this,” he said, making Avie blush. “Do you and Shadow plan on having a baby any time soon?”
Avie smiled. “It will come when it’s supposed to happen. We’re not in any rush.”
“Carol and Jake will pick the kids up this evening,” he said as he burped Derrick. “I’m taking my wife for a nice dinner.”
“Oh, how lovely,” she exclaimed. “She’ll feel like it’s heaven.”
“I hope so,” he said, watching his son gobble up his lunch from the bottle.
Avie went to tend the other children while Leo watched the chaos around him. He didn’t know how she kept her calm with all these kids running around, despite the aides.
Leo burped his son, changed his diaper, and rocked him before placing him inside the bassinet. He kissed Gracie goodbye after he washed her face and hands.
He returned to his wife’s office and found her asleep at her desk with the container from Ty’s empty.
Gently shaking her, he woke her long enough to help her to the plush couch and covered her.
Tonight, he hoped to return to his home, and they’d talk about what to do about this unplanned pregnancy.
Something in his chest ached as he peered down at his lovely wife, missing her.
To make her feel better, he needed to step up his game.