Page 80 of Best Laid Plans

Natalie lets out an exasperated sigh. “You always look pretty, Tater Tot. You know better than to play with my makeup.”

“I know. I sorry. I just wanted to be pretty like you!”

That’s when I step in; I can’t stay silent a second longer.

I squat down so that Tatum and I are eye level. “What do I call you?”

She tilts her head and blinks before smiling. “Pretty girl.”

“That’s right. You’re my pretty girl. I know Mama’s lipstick seems shiny and fun, but it’s for grownups. Not little girls. Okay?”

She pouts a little but agrees. “Okay. I sorry.”

Nat grins at me; I hope that means I nailed this. I’m thinking we work great as a team.

Natalie takes Tatum upstairs to the bathroom, leaving me to plate up our breakfast. Really, this couldn’t have worked out better had I planned it.

I bring our food out, along with the silverware and drinks. Only, I leave something extra special on Nat’s napkin.

They join me at the table, both digging into their food right away. It’s agony waiting for her to notice the little box. I was really counting on her putting that napkin in her lap.

Finally, she makes a grab for it. “What’s this?” she asks, looking at it quizzically.

“Open it.”

She looks nervous, and I kind of love it.

She cracks open the box, revealing a key on a silver keychain. She lifts it from the box and reads the engraving—You already live in my heart. Share my home too.

Her eyes fill with tears, and I worry I’ve messed this all up.

Natalie quickly dispels that worry when she nods and rushed over to hug me. Not one to be left out, Tatum wriggles down and joins our embrace. “Mama, why you crying?”

“Happy tears, Tater Tot. Happy tears.”

Tatum pulls back and scrunches her nose. “Why?”

“How…how would you feel about us living here with Daddy?”

“Like a family? Like Nana and Popsie?”

“Yes, pretty girl,” I answer her, “just like that.”

“Yes! Please! Yes!” She launches herself back at me, burying her face in my chest. This is hands-down the best day of my life.

* * *

It’s been a month since I asked my girls to move in with me. As much as I’d love to say life has been perfect, I’d be lying. We bicker from time to time like an old married couple, and sometimes Tatum misses her old apartment. All in all, though, the transition has gone well, and really, when toddlers are involved, a few hiccups along the way are par for the course. And honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing; it’s our own kind of perfect.

I was truly more apprehensive over telling our families than about us actually moving in together, but they took it shockingly well.

Nate simply shrugged and said, “Treat her right, brother.”

Her parents were excited. Melanie wrapped me in a hug and rocked us side to side. I’ll never forget my shock when Luke wrapped an arm around me and said, “Now you better make an honest woman out of my baby girl soon.”

Hell, I’d do it today—right this very second, in fact—and Natalie would probably be down with it too. But she deserves the fairytale every little girl dreams of, and I’m damn sure going to give it to her. Not to mention, Lord help us all if we deny Tatum the change to dress fancy and be the center of attention—she would never forgive us.

My parents were over the moon—so much so that they’re flying in today and are staying through the first of November. I’m actually on my way to the airport now to pick them up, making this day one of five that they’ll be occupying my guest room—which equates to five days of Natalie being weird about sex. But, such is life.

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