Page 27 of Dad's Cop Buddy

“Already? I’m still breastfeeding. Maybe we can wait until he’s on solid food and out of diapers.”

“Yeah, I guess we can just keep practicing until then,” I say, slapping her ass.

We turn our attention to the driveway as a car rolls up to the garage doors. It’s Tom, Kendal’s father.

“I didn’t think he was going to show,” she says.

“Why wouldn’t he? He’s all alone now.” The downturn in the economy last year was a hard blow to Tom’s business. As his disposable income dwindled, things between him and his wife became unbearable. It wasn’t long before she filed for divorce. She took the house he purchased when he married her. Now, he’s the one living in the old family cabin.

Tom peers through the door and taps lightly, “Hello.”

“Come in, we can use your help. Your daughter keeps changing her mind about the living room furniture arrangement. I’m tired of moving it all by myself,” I tell him.

“That’s a woman thing. They need everything to be just right,” Tom shakes his head.

“Well, this woman is going to sneak upstairs and make the bed so I have a place to sleep tonight. You two can have a beer or something. It’s time for my handsome husband to take a break anyway,” Kendal says.

She goes up the stairs, and Tom follows me to the kitchen for that beer.

“So, how’s married life treating you?” he asks me. I’m surprised because this is the first time I can remember him asking.

“It’s great, Tom. Your daughter is an amazing wife and mother. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“That’s good. You know, I’ve got to be honest. I wasn’t so sure about you two. I mean, with the age difference and all.”

“I know, Tom, and she’s your kid. I’d be concerned if you didn’t worry.”

“That’s one beautiful baby you’ve got there, and this house! I think you’ve made my daughter very happy.”

“No more than she makes me, buddy.”

We drink our beers and get back to the task at hand. I had practically the entire force do all the heavy lifting with me. Now, it’s just down to the unpacking.

Kendal checks on our progress a few times while she makes dinner for the three of us and cares for the baby. Even as she runs around in sweatpants and a messy bun, she’s still so fucking beautiful. She was initially worried her body would change and I would find her less attractive. I told her I couldn’t imagine anything changing the way I see her, but that wasn’t exactly accurate. Knowing that her body housed our child for nine months has made her even more sexy in my eyes.

Tom holds the baby as I set the table with some of the paper plates we’ll be using for the next couple of days. Kendal smiles as she watches her father bond with our baby. I imagine something like that would have seemed impossible to her a year ago, and I’m happy things turned out for the best. Despite Tom’s heartbreak and financial woes, I think he’s going to be better off in the end. He looks so much happier now, for one.

Kendal puts the baby down, and we eat our dinner. It’s getting late so Tom excuses himself shortly after. The drive to the cabin is a long one. Kendal kisses him goodbye, and we make our way out to the back patio for some wine before bed. She takes a seat on my lap and kisses me.

“What’s that for?” I ask.

“For everything. For buying this amazing home for our family, for being so nice to my father, for being the best husband any woman could ever wish for, for everything.”

“You should know by now that I’ll do anything for you, princess,” I say, cradling her in my arms.

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to invite Casey out here for a weekend once we’re all settled in. I think she’d like it.”

“How has she been?” I ask.

“Well, things are still hard for her but she’s managing. I thought that being my maid of honor was going to be the end of her, but she made it through and she’s getting better all the time.”

“Three years is a long time to go through something like that, princess. I imagine it will take just as long or longer for her to feel secure again.”

“True.I can’t even imagine what she went through. That time is almost a distant memory for me now, but for her, it has to be so much worse.” She sighs, stops talking, and kisses me passionately, “If I didn’t have you, I might still be in that shack. I love you so much!”

“Don’t think like that, baby girl. You’re right here where you belong—with me and our son. You’re the love of my life, and I’ll never let anything happen to you. This is our life now, and this family is our world. Nothing and nobody else matters. I love you with all my heart.”

“Let’s go to bed. The baby will be up early, and we have another long day of unpacking ahead of us,” she tells me.

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