Page 27 of The Hottest Daddy
“And I’m crazy about both of you.” She pulled Berry onto her lap and smiled at River over her head. “You know I’ll never try to replace your mommy though, right?”
Berry nodded, not fazed by the question at all. “I know.”
River poured Sunday a cup of coffee, offering her some breakfast. She thanked him for the drink but shook her head. “I grabbed a Danish with Daisy this morning. I needed the sugar after last night.”
River grinned and kissed her. “Damn right.”
“You did a swear,” Berry hissed at him, and he laughed.
“Sorry, Pooh. Listen, what say we go out for the day? We could go up the mountain, or maybe to Telluride for shopping?”
Sunday and Berry looked at each other and said, in unison, “Shopping.”
River shook his head in mock sadness. “Women.”
Sunday helped Berry get dressed. Brushing the little girl’s curls, she wondered at how easily this little person had fit into their lives here and yet she herself had found a home here quickly too.
“Sunday?”
“Yes, sweetie?”
“Do you think you and Daddy will have a baby?”
Sunday felt tears prick her eyes. “Well, I don’t know, honey.”
“I’d like a brother or sister. No, sister. Boys are horrible.”
Sunday chuckled. “They grow up into nice people though. Like Daddy.”Not all of them of are nice… she shook the thought away.
“I suppose.”
“Listen, BerBer … your daddy and I are just beginning to figure all this out. There will be time to see if we want to have children together.”
Berry suddenly clung to her neck and Sunday hugged her. “I miss Mommy.”
“I know, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.” She held her tightly. “I know she’s watching over you, that she is with you all the time, even if you can’t see her. That she loves you more and more every day.”
Berry nodded, her little head bobbing against Sunday’s chest. Sunday looked up to see River watching them. Their eyes met.
“I love you,” he mouthed, his eyes intense, and Sunday smiled.
“I love you too.” She knew the truth of it, and in that moment, it seemed more than right to speak it.
River drove them into Telluride and they enjoyed a morning of walking around the stores, even the tacky tourist spots. Berry consumed far too much sugar and Sunday teased River about it. “You’ll never get her to sleep now.”
“Oh, ye of little faith. I’ll just tell her one of my interminable stories about the history of painting. That’ll do it.”
Sunday pretended to agree. “Ah, yeah, that’ll do it, all right.”
River grinned and dipped his finger into the ice cream sundae in front of him. He smeared a glob of cream on her nose. Berry burst out laughing and Sunday tried to lick it off but couldn’t reach with her tongue. “Silly Daddy,” Berry said and with Sunday’s help, drew a heart in syrup on River’s cheek.
River looked at Sunday, his eyes dancing. “Do we let her get away with that?”
“Oh, no way,” Sunday laughed and with Berry shrieking with laughter, they covered the little girl’s face with syrup and sprinkles, making the other patrons laugh at them.
“Look at us.” River was shaking his head, trying to clean himself and Berry up.
“We’re walking works of art.” Sunday lifted Berry into her arms. “I’ll take her to the bathroom.”
