Page 35 of Beast Mode Todd

Six hours later the fucking kid was playing duck-duck goose. Just like her old man, stubborn as fuck. Whereas a few hours ago I was begging her to stay put, not I was promising her everything under the sun if she’d just get the fuck outta there.

When she finally came, I couldn’t believe something that little had caused so much damn trouble. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I cried for the first time since I was a pre-teen and stabbed myself in the ass with a dart gun. Long story.

“Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.” I must’ve said that shit a hundred times before I realized what I was doing. “Daddy’s sorry baby.” Oh man, she opened those eyes, my eyes and I was a goner. I felt like a puddle of goo and knew that if I didn’t get my shit together by the time we left this place, this kid would run me for the rest of mylife.

I looked over at my wife who was beaming from ear to ear like she hadn’t just been screaming like she’d been cunt shot. I leaned over with the baby clutched tightly in my arms and kissed her chapped lips. “I love you Mallory.”

She cried because it was the first time I’d said the words out loud. I’ve done things to show her, and I’m sure she knew, but the words still meant something. “I love you too. Now give me that baby.” I couldn’t. For some reason I couldn’t let hergo.

Nosy ass doc came around the hospital bed and took my daughter from my arms and handed her off to her mom. I gave her a look, which she ignored and soon we were overrun with baby monsters.

Grandmothers are the fucking worst. I could see I was gonna have to lay down some ground rules if I ever wanted to have time with my baby girl. Geez!

That night after I’d kicked the last of the moochers out I sat in the chair next to the bed watching her sleep. The nurse had just brought the baby in for her feeding, but she wasn’t fussing or anything so I figured I’d give her mother a few more minutes of much neededrest.

It was my time to cuddle and coo with my girl since I hadn’t had the chance what with aunts and uncles and grandparents hogging the kid. I spoke to her softly and her eyes followed me as if she understood. It was a poignant moment in our relationship. One that as a dad I’ll never forget. The first time I bonded with my firstborn.

She was my first, the first of my seed, my strength and I vowed to do everything in my power as long as I lived to see that she was fine. I knew one of the best ways to do that, was to love her mother, to let her see what I’d seen growing up. That unbreakable bond between two people. It had given me comfort as a kid and I knew it would do the same forher.

“What’re you thinking about so hard over there Todd?” My head came up at her soft voice and I smiled. She looked beautiful. The moms had brushed her hair and done some shit to her face like she was going out dancing, totally wasted if you ask me. She had that natural glow that didn’t need any enhancements.

“Number two, I’m thinking how soon can we get started on my boy.” We both grinned as I laid the baby in her arms and sat beside them on the narrow bed. Both of them held safe in my arms as she started to feed. All in all I’d do that five years again easy if it would lead tothis.

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