Don’t get too attached. Not a good sign.
Still, we cuddled and enjoyed the movie, and around five, I placed our order. Ham and mushroom for me, grilled chicken and veggies for Gavin, and extra cheese with pineapple for Asia. Complete with dipping sauces, breadsticks, and cinnamon bites for dessert.
However, the delivery guy showed up before Gavin did.
“Where’s Daddy?” Asia asked.
I thanked the man for his delivery, tipped him well, and carried the food into the kitchen. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon. But, even if he doesn’t make it for dinner, guess what?”
She sighed. “What?”
I set all the food onto the kitchen table. “That means we get to eat on the couch and watch another movie.”
She gasped. “I never get to eat on the couch! Let’s do that.”
I bent down. “You have to promise me one thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
I bopped her nose with my finger. “Make sure to rub it in Daddy’s face in the morning because he’ll be eating cold, day-old pizza instead of hot, fresh, cheesy goodness.”
She nodded. “I can definitely do that.”
Her sentiment made me bark with laughter, and soon we were back on the plush microfiber couch with platefuls of pizza, cups full of soda, and yet another movie on the screen. I hadn’t had a day like this in a very long time, and I could tell by how relaxed Asia was beside me that she needed time like this as well.
I made a mental note to team up with Camila to give her one day like this a week. One day to relax and not care about anything in the world.
Around seven o’clock, though, Asia started to yawn. She leaned against me asFrozen 2played in the background, but we didn’t even get halfway through the movie before her soft snores fell from her precious little lips. I moved her, allowing her to lay against the couch so I could clean things up. And after putting all the dishes into the dishwasher and the pizza into the fridge, I did my best to scoop up Asia so I could walk her upstairs before tucking her in for bed.
“Mmmm, Daddy home?” she mumbled.
I laid her down in bed. “Not just yet. But, I’ll send him up here to kiss you when he gets back.”
She yawned. “Can I brush my teeth tomorrow?”
I slid her shoes off. “Of course, honey. But, make sure you do it first thing, okay?”
She licked her lips. “Mhm.”
I got her shoes and socks off before I slid her comforter up her body. I tucked her in tightly and handed her a rainbow-colored unicorn stuffed animal she was reaching for. And after a soft kiss on top of her head, I turned off her light and closed her bedroom door behind me.
“Can I sneak in really—”
“Ah!”
Gavin’s voice came out of nowhere, and I almost peed myself. I whipped around, my eyes wide as I peered through the darkness of the upstairs. But, no matter how dark it was, I saw his piercing blue eyes staring back at me with something akin to sorrow in his eyes.
“Daddy?” Asia called out.
I stepped off to the side. “I’ll be downstairs. Want me to heat you up some pizza?”
He cracked open her door. “More like a glass of wine, if you’re offering.”
I nodded. “Two glasses of wine, coming up.”
It wasn’t my job, but the man looked haggard. He slipped into his daughter’s room, and I made my way back into the kitchen, where I rummaged around for wine glasses and a nice, strong bottle. However, I couldn’t find the wine glasses. All I saw were old sippy cups that had been discarded in a random cabinet, foggy glasses that looked more like tumblers, and coffee mugs.
So, I settled on wine in coffee mugs.
