I woke up early at 8 am and headed back to the hotel. That same lady at the front desk saw me and waved at me, I turned away from her and could see her winking at me looking down at my crotch. My eyes widened and I laughed on my way back. I took Natalie into the hotel and somehow it was cleaner than last night?! I- ok then. I went to go take a shower since she was still asleep, I carefully and gently placed her on the bed so I didn't wake her. I went to go shower and luckily I heard her cause I was afraid that something could've happened to her. I heard her crying and I quickly got out of the shower with a towel and the shower on still. I was very protective of her, even if she wasn't biological, she was the only thing I had left of Chris. Enough slacking and becoming the mutant father I am.
"You ok baby" I said carrying her on my wet chest.
She squirmed and then calmed down snuggling me. Thank god for that towel cause I thought I had left it in the other room.
"I okie dada" she says giggling.
I smile and kiss her head.
"It's time for your shower baby" I tell her taking her clothes off carefully.
She flailed and cried, she hated baths and showers. Water basically, which is crazy cause Chris loved water and getting wet.
"Baby, we have to get you showered. You have to be clean, and you're gonna see grandma!" I say smiling.
She was super fussy, only cause she had just woken up.
"I know baby, I know but it'll be short and then you and I can go out to eat!" I say looking at her.
She finally calms down, looking at me sniffling and whimpering.
"Come on baby, work with daddy, that's all I want" I say holding her close.
She hugs me and nuzzles me. I kiss her head and bounce her to get her happy.
"Now can we get this shower done and I'll leave you alone" I say laughing.
She giggles and nods.
I put my pants on, I was DEFINITELY not gonna show my privates to a child. I would do anything to keep my stepdaughter safe, but definitely not trying to agonize her with things she doesn't need to know about until she's older.
She cried loudly to the touch of the water but then I held her and sang to her, the water was washing on my wounds and bandages. I didn't care at this point, I just wanted to protect her and make sure she was happy.
"Shhhhh baby don't cry, daddys here to comfort" I say softly to her.
She cries less and then I wash her little head and body as best as I could without her kicking the hell out of me 🥴. I took her into my arms as soon as I was done and turned the shower off. My parents were soaking wet but did I care? Nope, it wasn't my place so, I could do whatever I wanted.
I wrapped her in a little towel and dried her up. I brushed her little curls out and let her pick her clothes out.
"Here baby, you choose, do you want the red and black or the blue and yellow outfit?"
She crawls to the blue and yellow, blue and yellow made me think of Chris. I smiled and dressed her up. She giggled and laughed. I laughed with her and put her in her carrier.
"Daddy's gonna go take a shower, you can watch cartoons" I say turning it onto Spongebob.
She clapped and yayed at the theme song. I giggled and finally got to take my full on shower. I turned on to a warm temperature and the water just spraying me like rain. The thoughts about Chris came back, I thought about him very often. I know it's only been about 17 hours since his death but, 17 hours felt like years without my boy. It broke me but I wasn't gonna let it get in my way of taking care of my stepdaughter.
