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She insists on making me breakfast saying, “Someone told me it was the most important meal of the day,” with a saucy wink. I laugh, remembering the second time apology pancakes made it onto my plate. It makes me love her that much more because she’s willing to do things she hates in order to take care of me. I ate every burnt, soggy bite and asked for more with a smile. The look of happy surprise on her face when I asked was worth it.
Mae has been very, um, hands-on with my care, and I’m enjoying every second.
“Daddy,” Isabel shouts when she comes home from nursery school, running up to where I’m sitting and hopping on my lap.
“Hey, Isa-bea, how’s my sweet girl?” Hugging her, I kiss the top of her head.
She started calling me that the day Mae brought her to the hospital to visit me. My sweet girl broke out in tears and crawled into my arms. My ribs ached, but there was no way I was going to let her go. I consoled her through it, telling her how brave she was and how proud I was of her.
While I was incapacitated, Isabel was a very busy toddler. She made a card for me every day and brought a stack of her drawings, each one showing me the plans she’s made for us.
Lots of cats are involved.
But it was the last picture she held up that absolutely slayed my heart. She drew the house and her, Mae, and me holding hands outside of it. She pointed to each stick figure, telling me exactly who we were—Isabel, Mommy, and Daddy Emmie.
My eyes shot to Mae, wondering if it was an overstep. She just smiled and shrugged like, As long as you’re okay with it.
A feeling of elated wholeness filled my soul, and I cried like a baby.
Isabel saying, “Don’t cry, Daddy. I wove you,” in her cherub voice did not help.
I plant a kiss on top of her head. “What did you do in school today, kiddo?”
“Painted with my fingers.” She holds up her hands, with blue and yellow paint still stuck under her nails.
“Isabel,” Charlotte calls from the kitchen. She’s been staying here to help Mae with Isabel. While I’m glad she’s here, I miss rocking my baby and settling her into bed at night.
She pops up from my lap. “I’m here, Grammy.”
Charlotte comes into the room and scoops her granddaughter up. “We’re going to go to the park. Do you need anything before I leave?”
“I’m good. You two have fun.” I look at the clock. Mae should be home at any moment. She’s working half-days at Pür, and the company has been more than accommodating with her schedule. The best part about it is that when she comes home for the day, she’s all ours. No more staying up all night to crunch numbers. No more coming home as if the weight of her life is crushing her.
“You also.” A knowing smile forms on her face. “Isabel and I will be gone a long time.” Charlotte winks, and I toss my head back in laughter. She’s always trying to give us alone time, which is nice. Especially when Queeny is feeling extra frisky.
“Mom! Remi!” Mae calls when she walks into the kitchen door and comes into our living room slash bedroom. Heading straight for me, she plants a big wet one, and if we didn’t have an audience, I would have pulled her on top of me.
“Hello to you too, Queeny,” I greet, staring like a dope as she picks up Isabel and smooches all over her chubby cheeks.
Isabel squeals in delight, and my love grows too big for this room.
That right there is everything I ever wanted. It’s my dream come true. The reason I breathe. The reason I fought like hell to be alive.
“Bye, Daddy.” Isabel waves as Charlotte whisks her out the door.
“Have fun with Grammy, sweetie.” I wave back.
There’s a look in Mae’s eyes that instantly makes my pants tight. She sashays over with a feline smile and takes my face in her hands. “I love you.”
I’ll never get tired of hearing it. “I love you.”
She pulls me in for a decadent kiss, but before I can pull her to me, she backs away.
“I’ll be right back,” she says with a smirk planted on her gorgeous face.
I smile and shake my head, anticipation building as I wonder what she has up her sleeve.
Fifteen minutes later, I find out.
