Page 120 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“No, sweetie. When people decide to date, they spend time together before they do all of that. So we just want to enjoy beingtogether right now. It’s a really good thing. And it makes us both happy, but we want to make sure it makes you happy, too.”
“I love my daddy, and I love my Winnie, so it makes me very happy that you want to spend time together.”
“That’s so great, sweet pea. Because we want you to be happy always.”
“And Winnie is going to stay in the house sometimes,” I said as they both turned to look at me.
“Daddy is so silly today.” Melody laughed as she looked at me with that strange look again. “Winnie already lives here, Daddy. Did you forget that?”
Winnie covered her smile with her hand.
I sighed. “I’m clearly not good at this.”
“What he meant is that maybe I won’t be staying in the casita all the time. I’d stay in the house with you guys, so I might be here in the morning when you wake up.”
“Oh, you won’t have your own room anymore ’cause you and Daddy want to share a room ’cause you have the deep feels?”
“Yes, that’s right. Would that be okay with you?”
“Yes. I like you being closer to my room, too,” Melody said before pushing up on her knees and gasping. “Does this mean we’ll be a real family? Justine says I don’t have a real family because I don’t have a real mama. But now I can tell her I do have a real family.”
My hands fisted at my side. “Justine is a?—”
Winnie’s hand moved to my thigh. “Justine is a confused little girl. You’ve always had a real family. It doesn’t take a certain number of parents to make a family. But now, both of our families are growing because we’re all going to be together. Does that make sense?”
“But can I tell Justine that you’re my family now?”
“There’s a lot I’d like to tell Justine,” I grumped as I glanced at Winnie, who was giving me that look that meant I shouldbite my tongue. “However, none of it is her business, really. But you’re welcome to tell her whatever you want about our family. We don’t have secrets. Winnie and I are dating, and if that’s something you want to share with your friends, I would never ask you not to talk about it.”
“I like Winnie being in our family, Daddy.” My daughter smiled up at me.
I pulled her onto my lap. “I like it, too, angel face. I love you very much, you know that, right?”
“I know that, Daddy.” She giggled. “You tell me every day. Lots of times, too.”
Winnie sniffed, and I looked up to see her swiping the tear moving down her cheek away.
This had gone well.
At least once she’d come in and helped explain things.
“Okay, who wants to hit the Honey Biscuit Café for pancakes.”
“I do!” Melody kissed my cheek, then kissed Winnie’s cheek and jumped off the bed. “Will you help me get dressed, Winnie?”
“Of course I will.”
Melody ran out of the room, and Winnie moved to her feet. I grabbed her hand. “Will you help me get dressed, Winnie?” My voice was gruff.
She smiled. “That’ll have to wait for later. But we’ve got plenty of time tonight for that.”
She gave me a chaste kiss and walked out of the room.
She was right. We had plenty of time.
I hadn’t planned on any of this.
But that was not going to stop me from enjoying it.
