Page 25 of Dad's Best Friend Professor

I blink to think of a good explanation. Damn. I wish Tony were here, he’s so much better at explaining complicating things to our child. But he is at the old house picking up some miscellaneous items the moving truck left behind. I rack my brain for a second and then I say, “Well, Ethan. You were a little seed inside mommy at first, and then you grew into a baby.”

He stares at my belly curiously. “I was a seed? Like an apple seed?”

I chuckle and nod.

He blinks for a moment. “Does everybody have seeds inside them?”

“Yes, smart child,” I say and hope he’d drop the topic soon, although from the look on his face, I know it isn’t happening.

“Does daddy have seeds, too?”

Shit. I need to stop here. Otherwise, he’ll keep asking questions. The child is insistent when it comes to finding out an answer and he can’t be easily fooled. I sigh heavily, thinking of a way out. Maybe I can distract him with some food. I’m going to do just that when I hear the door to the garage open and then Tony’s voice.

“I’m home!”

“Daddy! Daddy!” Ethan runs out to meet his dad, and I follow, glad of the diversion.

I take over the cardboard box Tony’s holding so Ethan can jump into his dad’s arms.

“Daddy,” he says after Tony dabs a kiss on his cheek. “Do you know I came from Mommy’s belly, and I was a seed before?”

“Of course I do,” Tony says. “I put you there.”

What? Why did he say that? I glower at him but he only shrugs.

Ethan’s eyes widen again. “Really? How?”

“Err…” Tony scratches his head and glances at me for help.

I roll my eyes. “Finish what you started, Professor Ryder.”

Tony thinks for a moment and says, “Daddy made a drink with the seeds and made Mommy drink it. One of the seeds grew up and became Ethan.”

I can’t help smiling. Not exactly a lie. Pretty close to the truth.

But Ethan is still not happy. “Can you do that again, Daddy?”

Dear Lord. Tony and I exchange a look, but we pretend we don’t understand the child’s request. “Do what again?” Tony asks.

“Make a drink for Mommy again. I want a little brother.”

Tony grins. “Sure, Ethan. But we’ll have to ask Mommy first.”

The child turns to me right away. “Can I have a little brother, please, Mommy?”

I pretend to think for a moment. “What about a little sister?”

Ethan pauses for a second and nods. “That’ll be nice, too.”

I chuckle and pinch his little nose. “Okay. You got it, Ethan.”

Still holding our son, Tony leans in to kiss me. “Thanks, Mommy. I’ll make you the drink tonight!”

“Yay!” Ethan giggles and claps his hands.