Page 13 of A Collier First Christmas
“Great, we’ll get right on it first thing in the morning,” Lily said as Sydney and Milly nodded in agreement.
Lily
Chapter 7
We were leaving the Tavern to head over to the Christmas tree farm when Cammie started to fuss. I unstrapped her from the carrier and snuggled her to me. A warm sensation hit my shoulder and ran down the front of my shirt.
“No, no, no,” I whined.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas asked.
“Your daughter just threw up all over me.”
To his credit, he tried not to laugh. “We can probably just wipe it off.”
I glared at him. “I am not picking out Cammie’s very first Christmas tree covered in puke. I’m trying to document everything this season so she’ll be able to look back some day and experience it all for herself.”
He smiled and pulled me into an embrace even though our daughter was squished between us and he probably got a little spit up on himself too. He didn’t seem to notice or care as he kissed me right there in the middle of Collier Street for the entire Pack to see.
“So, pass on the tree tonight. Why don’t we just get you home and you can take a long hot bath while I get some Cammie time?”
He seemed to be holding his breath waiting on my response, as if he expected me to turn down his offer. I considered that for a moment. This big tough Alpha was nervous asking me if he could watch his own kid. Had I done that?
I thought back through the last few months and my face fell. I had. It had all been my fault. It was no secret that I was borderline neurotic about my child. After my miscarriage, she seemed like such a miracle to me that I didn’t want to miss a single second of it, but I hadn’t meant to hog her from her own father in the process.
“Hey, what’s with the sad face? It was just an offer Lil. Come on, we’ll get you both home and cleaned up. I have some work to do tonight anyway.”
“Don’t do that,” I told him.
“Do what?”
“Placate me. I’m so sorry, Thomas. She’s your daughter too. You should never feel like you have to ask me for permission to spend time with your daughter.”
He shrugged like it was no big deal. “She’s lucky to have such a fierce and protecting mother.”
“But not from you. Oh no, what have I done?”
He laughed. “Lil, it’s fine. Really.” He reached down and offered the baby his hand as she grabbed it in her tiny fist and cooed. He did that often and it melted my heart.
When we’d first brought Cammie home, I thought Thomas was a little uncomfortable with babies. He seemed to love and dote on her, but usually only when she was in my arms.
Because she’s always in your arms,my subconscious reminded me.
I immediately thrust the baby into her father’s arms and made a personal vow to do it as often as possible.
I watched to see how he would react to the sudden change, but he just stared down at her and grinned from ear to ear.
“We’re going to get mommy home, and all cleaned up now and some fresh jammies for you too, Cammie whammy,” hesaid in a voice I’d never heard him use before. She cooed and squirmed in his arms happily as if she knew she was safe there.
He carried her to the car and then put her back in her car seat. I watched over his shoulder ready to assist, but he handled it like a pro.
With a quick kiss for me, he held my door opened until I was settled and then closed it and walked around to climb into the driver’s seat.
In some strange way I was seeing Thomas, the father, for the first time. Sure, he had been there with us every step of the way always loving and assisting whenever I needed him. I sighed.Whenever I let him.
I stayed quiet for the rest of the ride home. When we got there Thomas got out and grabbed the diaper bag but waited for me to take care of the baby. It was breaking my heart and not what I had ever intended for us.
“Can you get her?” I asked.
