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“Fine,” I say, “but tomorrow, take a look at her tooth. She’s growing up, Zayden. Soon, she’ll be a woman.” I hold back a laugh.
“Off to college,” he says, linking his arm around my waist.
Quiet moments pass. “I had a great day. Thank you, Zayden.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart.”
This feelsnice.
Here we are, watching Olivia sleep, talking about her like she’s our own daughter. One day, this bubble’s gonna burst, my conscience tells me. One day, your job here will be over. What are you going to dothen?
I shush my thoughts, because I don’t want to deal with them now. I’m having a nice moment with these two and for the first time in my life, things feel complete. I have a beautiful home I get to live in, a handsome, complicated man who’s trying his best despite being out of his comfort zone, and a little baby who may not be mine, but I love her to pieces. My pumpkin chunky monkey.
Some would say I have it all. And I get paid forit.
They would be right. But who knows what tomorrow will bring?
I dip down to kiss baby Olivia on her cheek. Her little lips pout as though she’s drinking from her bottle, and she sighs. When I look at Zayden, he’s smiling. His hands cradle my face, and he looks into my eyes, and then slowly, he comes in for akiss.
“You…are the best thing that baby’s ever had,” he says. “We should all be so lucky.”