Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
When the show is over, we wait for Camille to say goodbye to her friends. She rushes over and leaps into my arms.
“Did you like it, Daddy? Did I do a good job?” she shouts.
“I loved it and you were amazing!”
I set her down and she takes my hand in her right hand and Cassidy’s in her left. She chatters away about the silly things that happened backstage and how happy she is that vacation is finally here.
As I listen, my mind drifts off to my life before this. I had no idea how empty it was. I thought making boatloads of money was all that mattered. Now, I realize that not having a family to share that wealth with makes it pretty worthless.
We arrive home and Cassidy goes upstairs to check on our baby, Connor. Camille and I sit beneath the Christmas tree and I read her a bedtime story. As I close the book, she says, “Tell me again about how you met Mommy.”
“No. You don’t really want to hear that story again, do you?”
“I do, I do.”
“Well, let’s see. When I first saw your mommy, she was standing alone in the dark under a streetlight. She found a stray kitten and was petting it. When I looked at her, I thought she was the most beautiful girl I had ever laid eyes on. When she looked back at me, I knew it was true. She was so sweet and so perfect that I didn’t want to spend a single day without her so I brought her here, pretending I needed someone to take care of my dogs, but it was really just so I could get close to her.”
“Tell me about the dogs again….”
“I had two big dogs named Thor and Hercules. They were supposed to become mean watchdogs, but once they met your mother, they were like goofy little puppies again. They wouldn’t harm a fly or their new best friend—your mother’s stray kitten.”
“That’s so nice. I’m happy they became good dogs and not mean dogs. Mommy did a good job.”
“Yes, she did. She has a way of bringing out the best in us mean, old things.”
“Did you love her as soon as you saw her?”
“I did. She stole my heart the minute she looked into my eyes for the very first time.”
“That’s so sweet, Daddy. And then you got married. Then you had me, then Connor and we all lived happily ever after.”
I hug her and ask, “If you already know how the story ends, why did you want me to tell it to you again?”
“Because I love it. It’s my favorite story.”
Cassidy comes back down the stairs and tells Camille, “It’s time for you to kiss your Daddy goodnight.”
Camille hugs my neck and gives me a peck on the cheek. “Good night, Daddy.”
“Good night, sweetheart. Have good dreams.”
Cassidy takes her upstairs to get her ready for bed, and I go to the kitchen to retrieve a bottle of wine. I set it on the table to breathe and light the candles. While I wait for Cassidy to return, I gaze out at the garden through the dining room window.
The pool is now fenced, and there’s a jungle gym where my dog run used to be. I see something on the ground near the play area and step outside to retrieve it.
As I bend down and scoop up the plush animal, it all comes rushing back to me. This is one of the toys I won for Cassidy on our first date. Camille must have convinced her to let her play with it and, with all the commotion around the school play, she left it outside.
I scoop it up and bring it into the house with me. Cassidy is in the dining room pouring the wine. I hold it up to show it to her and she grins. “My hero. Thank you for saving Mr. Penguin.”
“You guard those toys like they’re an ancient treasure. I’m shocked Mr. Penguin was allowed outside.”
“I guess you get a little less attached to your own things when you have kids. Camille has had her eye on him for a long time. That doesn’t mean I don’t still cherish him, though. Every time I look at him, I remember the night you won him for me. I think about the roller coaster and the tunnel of love, how you laid me down and kissed me on the beach.” She bats her eyes at me and adds, “And what happened when we came home.”
“Hmm, what happened when we got home is my favorite part,” I say, pulling her onto my lap.
She giggles. “Me too, Daddy.”
“Finish that wine and we can go upstairs and do a little reenactment.”
“Anything for you, Daddy.”
I feel that familiar stiffening in my shorts and press her ass down against it. She smiles and wiggles against me. After all this time and two babies, she’s still the hottest girl in the world. Just the thought of being inside her sets me on fire every time.