Her eyes slide down and it’s probably as much confirmation I’m going to get right now that she’s seeing someone. I have a feeling that once Carrie finds out I’m sleeping with Elle—and God, I hope more than that—she’ll get more vocal about this possible guy. I’d be thrilled if she’s found someone to get her mind off of me. I don’t think she even really wants me anymore, I’ve just been one of the few people who doesn’t put up with her shit and that makes me appealing.
If there is a mystery man, I hope he’s a decent person, for Levi’s sake. What she does when Leviisn’twith her doesn’t concern me.
Elle isn’t homewhen we get there. She had practice and put in time at the chiropractor’s office too, so I know she’ll probably be worn out when she gets home. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so we both had a lot to do today before being off for the next couple of days. I work on dinner and Levi plays by the tree. When I put the chicken in the oven, I walk over to see what Levi’s doing because he’s quiet, and he’s standing up, whipping his Johnson out near the Christmas tree.
“Whoa, what are you doing?”
He jumps at the intrusion and looks up at me with pure innocence.
“Watewing the twee,” he says.
“We donotwater inside trees. In fact, it’s time we stop wateringallthe trees and let the rain and outdoor hoses do that for us. Do you understand?”
“But, Daddy it’s dwy. Look!” He points at the needles on the floorunder the tree.
“It’s dry, but peeing on the tree will not help it. Come on. Let’s go potty and then I’ll show you how we water a Christmas tree. Forget I ever showed you how to go anywhere but in the toilet.” I poke his side and he laughs.
“In the toilet,” he says deep like me and laughs.
“It is a good thing you’re so cute.”
He does his business in the toilet and I go on about what a good boy he is as we wash hands. Elle pokes her head in the door and we all three go full-on cheese smiles.
“There you are,” I say.
“Hey,” she says.
I lean over and kiss her and Levi does the same. She giggles and nuzzles his nose after and I lean in for a nose nuzzling too.
“Oh, you guys are too much,” she says, laughing.
“I went potty on the toilet and not the twee,” Levi tells her.
Her eyes go wide and she looks up at me.
“Yeah, it was God’s mercy that made me go check on him as he was about to christen the Christmas ornaments.”
“I not help it if I pee on it,” Levi adds.
“That’s right. We’ve decided we’re going to leave the watering of all trees to what?” I look at Levi.
“To the wain and outdoh hoses,” Levi recites proudly.
Elle presses her lips together and her face turns pink as she withholds her laugh.
“And I’m about to show him how toproperlywater the Christmas tree.” I make a face. “He was right, itwasdry.”
She bursts out laughing and Levi looks at me, as if asking if it’s okay to laugh yet, if he’s still in trouble.
I laugh too and he grins.
“It’s all right, son. Now you know.”
We walk into the kitchen, Levi happily chatting about the new presents under the tree.
“I did notice there were a few more under there than when I left,” I say, filling the kettle with water.
She smirks. “I noticed a few new ones myself.”
