Page 14 of A Layperry's Hope
Once Maribel is fed and burped, I set her back in her bassinet. Then I lie back and almost immediately fall back asleep.
I wake up to the sun shining through the window. It has been a long time since I’ve slept in like this. I sit up, looking down at Maribel only to find her bassinet empty. For a split second, panic overwhelms me. In the next second, I remember Christian.
Standing up, I hear him singing again. He must have woken up and grabbed Maribel before she could wake me up. I’m surprised she hasn’t been crying for more milk, but maybe Christian’s voice has been entertaining her enough for now.
I get dressed and tie my hair into a knot at the top of my head before leaving the bedroom. I follow the sound to the kitchen, finding Christian there, swaying back and forth with Maribel tucked against his chest.
Leaning my hip against the doorframe, I just stay right where I am and watch him. He’s looking out the window, his back to me. He looks good. Better than good, Christian looks healthy, happy, and light.
The last time he was here, something weighed against his shoulders. Even now, I still see traces of that prickly asshole I came to care about, but now the edges are filed down into something more manageable. His jabs are more in jest than they are to hurt.
He’s still mypruist, but now he’s different. He’s grown while he was gone. It’s made him into a better man, into someone who can be a better father. I try not to get my hopes up but I can’t stop wondering if this difference will make him a better partner as well. If he wants to be my partner, that is.
“Good morning,” I say, making Christian turn around in surprise.
Christian’s cheeks turn red and his features harden. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough,” I tell him with a grin. In response, Christian rolls his eyes. The gesture makes my heart skip a beat. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen him like this.
“Whatever. The only reason I’m singing and swaying is because of the baby. She deserves the world even if her dad is a prickly asshole.”
He’s trying for a joke but it falls flat. I can tell he’s actually worried about the type of dad he’s going to be. In the time we spent before he left, I learned to read Christian, at least a little bit.
“You have been a father for a day and already you are mastering it. Give yourself a little grace, Christian.”
Christian shakes his head but doesn’t argue with me. Instead, he passes Maribel over to me. “I think she’s itching for breakfast. While you take care of her, I’ll make us something. Do you still enjoy brown tea or do you need something without the caffeine?”
“There is a box of tea above the stove I enjoy. Your brown tea is still there as well. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it while you were gone.”
Christian looks at me, his expression unreadable. Apparently, it’ll take time before I can read him as easily as before. This man has layers and secrets and walls. I hope someday, he will let me see behind them.
I am willing to be as patient as he needs me to be because I am not going anywhere.
Now that he’s home, I’ll do everything I can to keep him here.
I sit down on the stool at the breakfast island. I tug down my shirt and get Maribel to latch. Christian fills up the kettle and sets it on the stove to start heating. Then he digs out a few eggs from the fridge and gets a pan heating.
I’m nervous to admit how good this all feels. Christian is here, sharing the same space as me. He’s showing himself to be a doting father and a caring partner. He’s making sure I’m drinking water, making sure I’m fed. He’s allowed me to sleep in. I don’t just love this attention, I’m slowly coming to crave it.
Some of the voices in my head whisper that it won’t last. They warn that this isn’t wise. A few voices remind me that there are plenty ofLayperryon this planet who would do anything to become my mate, that they would be a much better pairing for me. Other voices congratulate me for having my mate back with me, celebrating this as a win. One voice calls out that I should hightail it out of here with him back to Earth. There’s always one voice saying the most random things.
Christian makes my tea before sliding it over to me, starting on the eggs. Neither of us share a word, just stay in the same space in comfortable silence. The silence makes the voices worse, but that’s okay. I can ignore them for now. Nothing will make me ruin this moment.
I sip my tea as Christian finishes up his cooking. Then he’s sliding a plate of eggs and toast towards me. He has his own plate along with a cup of brown tea. He says it reminds him ofcoffee, a morning drink he enjoyed back on Earth.
“Thank you, Christian.”
“No worries. Gotta make sure my baby daddy is fed.” Christian’s face twists into a grimace. “Never tell anyone I said that or I’ll throw myself out a window. Gross.”
I chuckle fondly. “We wouldn’t want that.”
“No, we wouldn’t. The windows in this place are really nice. It would be a pain in the ass to replace them.”
“Oh yes. I am far more worried about replacing the windows rather than replacing you.”
Christian looks up at me, his mouth full of food. He gives me a tiny grin that’s made cutest by the way his cheeks are puffed up with food. I take a bite of my toast, doing my best not to cover Maribel in crumbs.
“Thanks for letting me stay here, Ghenie.”
