Page 70 of Fighting For Light
“You don’t think I already know that, gem?”
“You’re naughty, daredevil,” I moan. Then his hands disappear. I open my eyes and look up at him.
“Or I just love learning exactly what my woman wants.” Then he brushes his mouth across mine. Before I can get into it, he pulls away and washes his body quickly.
I frown. “It was my turn,” I whine.
He grins and kisses my cheek as he rinses off. “Later.” He shuts off the cold water and steps out, wrapping a towel around himself before holding one out for me. It barely covers my boobs these days because they have swelled up like balloons, but Kai doesn’t seem to mind.
I glance at my phone and we have five minutes to get logged on. We get dressed and get everything barely set up in time.
The woman teaches breathing patterns and relaxation techniques. She also shows us partner-assisted stretching to help with the pelvic floor. “I don’t think this is doing what she intended for aid in stretching,” I mutter, with Kai on his knees behind me, holding my hips steady in the cat-cow stretch.
He pushes his hips gently against my butt, and I look over my shoulder at him as fire lights my veins. Then there’s a knock at the door. It swings open, and Dad climbs the two stairs.
“Whoa, I can…come back,” Dad says, clearing his throat and averting his eyes as he takes his feet backward down the steps.
“Dad! Wait!” I yell. “I thought you locked the door, Kai,” I grit out, looking at Kai.
“I did, but then I had to get your yoga mat out of storage.”
I groan. “Help me up,” I command. He gets up and takes my hands, helping me to my feet. “Dad, it’s fine. We were just —“
“Nope, nope, I don’t need to know what you were doing. I don’t need details. I don’t want to know any of it.”
“It’s birthing classes, Dad. That’s all that was happening.” He drops his hand and looks at me.
“Oh, that makes sense. How did it go?”
I shrug, and Kai throws his arm over my shoulder. “I’d say it went well,” he says smugly. I toss Kai a‘I will kill you if you don’t shut up right now’look. He grins and goes over to the fridge.
“Are you feeling okay, sweetheart?” Dad asks.
I nod, rubbing my stomach. “Yeah, we went to the doctor the other day. Everything is good.” I glance at Kai, and he nods in approval. “It’s a boy, Dad.”
Dad’s eyes widen and a slow smile grows on his face. “That’s wonderful, honey,” he says, smiling and looking at Kai. “I have a feeling you are going to have your hands full, seeing as his grandpa and his father are dirt bike-riding, thrill-seeking, crazy men.”
I roll my eyes, and Kai shrugs as if to say he’s not wrong.
“Do you have a second, Cordi? I want to talk to you about something.”
“Yeah, sure.” I’m thoroughly exhausted, but if this is the first step of getting back into Dad’s good graces, then I’ll stay up all night if I have to.
“I’ll be in our room if you need me, babe,” Kai says and leaves for our room, sliding the little door closed, giving us privacy.
I sit next to Dad on the couch, and he rubs his chin like he does when he’s trying to find the right words. He did it right before he told me Mom and he were separating. My heart picks up its pace, and I suddenly wish my best friend was next to me for moral support.
“I’m sorry, Cordi. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. It was the last thing you needed, and I wasn’t being a good father to you. I hope you can forgive me.”
My heart slows, and I grab his hand. “Dad, there is nothing to forgive. Everything is good now.”
He squeezes my hand. “I love you, baby girl, and I’m so proud of you.” He pulls me into a hug, and I squeeze him as tightly as I can.
“I love you, too, Dad.”
He lets me go and stands. Dad has never been very good with emotions, while Mom just used them as weapons against both of us.
“Alright, I’ll leave you to it. We’re headed off to Texas in the morning.”
