"Why?" He breathes out. "Because even if we are not together, I still want to know that you are always healthy." I can feel the tears in the corner of my eyes
He knows me too much about me and it drives me crazy. I want to give in, but I remind myse...
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After dropping Lilah off we arrive to my place and unbuckle my little girl. As soon as we get in, Mase comes rushing over to Maya. She hugs his neck while he licks her little hands.
"Mase, get out of the way." I pick Maya up and go over to the sink. I wash her hands with mine and dry them.
"Alright love, what do you wanna do?" I ask her and she thinks for a second.
"Let's bake cookies." Baking it it then. I start to take out the ingredients, but her voice stops me. "Like the one mama makes." Oh, then I need a recipe. I fish out my phone from my pocket and click on her contact.
Me: Hey, Maya wants to bake cookies, but like the ones you make. Can you tell me the recipe please?
Baby<3: Image sent
Me: Thank you.
I put my phone on the counter and start making the mix with Maya's help. "Who is b-a-b-y? Who's baby, papa?" I glance at her only to see my phone in her hands, looking at the massages between me and her mom.
"It's your mommy and since when can you read?" I ask my one and half year old girl.
"Mommy teach me." Now I get it.
"Why is that her name? Her name is mommy or mama?" I let a chuckle slip through my mouth and walk close to her.
"Her contact name is baby because I used to call her that. But let's keep that between the two of us, okay?" I hold up my pinky for her to link with mine and she does.
"Between us."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After we ate dinner and cookies I bath her, help her brush her teeth, put on her pajama, nappy and tuck her in bed. I sit beside her and grab a book, ready to read for her.
"No papa, I want you to sing."
Me singing? Alright.
I start to hum one of the lullabies Lilah sang to her and caress her curly hair. Her eyes flutter shut after a few moments and I carefully stand up, switch her night light on and close the door just enough that there's a creak.
I take a shower, brush my teeth and put on some plaid pajama pants. I get in my bed and try to sleep.
But when I do, I have that fucking nightmare and the next time I open my eyes I see my daughter on my bed with a worried look.
I sit up in my bed, thinking something is wrong. "What is it sweetheart? Did something happen?" I ask, looking for an injury or anything, but she shakes her head.
"You were crying. You say no again and again." Fuck, I didn't want to wake her up with that. I take her in my arms, pressing a kiss on her head.
"I'm okay baby. I'm okay. Papa just had a bad dream." She looks at me then smiles.
"Can I call mama, please?"
My brows furrow and I look at the clock on my nightstand. "Love, It's past midnight. I don't think she's awake." And I would hate to wake her up.
"No, mommy always sleeps at one." What? That is not healthy for her. Next time I see her, we're going to have a serious conversation.
I unlock my phone and click on her name. It rings three times before she picks it up. "Aresius what happened? Is everything okay?" Her worried voice is heard from the other end of the line.
"Hey mama."
"Maya are you okay? Where's papa?" I snap out of my trance and clear my throat.
"I'm here, everything is okay." She let's out a sigh of relief.
"I can't sleep mommy and want to talk with you." Maya says. "You tell me something and I try sleep." She looks up at me and smiles while snuggling up to me.
Delilah starts telling her a story when she was younger and as soon as I hear her soothing voice my eyes close.
I can hear our princess saying that she loves her and a goodnight before I'm completely out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wake up alone in my bed. I stretch my arms and get up. I throw on a shirt and go downstairs. My little girl is there playing happily with that stupid dog. He starts licking her so I send him away.
"Mase stop that." Maya looks up and hugs my legs. I bend down and kiss her cheek. "When did you wake up princess?" I pick her up and head to the kitchen.
"Not long." She rubs her eyes with her tiny fist and yawns. I take out pancake mix and cook a few. I put three on my daughter's after cutting them up, two on my plate and decorate it with syrup, strawberry and a little cinnamon on mine.
"You love mama very much." She speaks suddenly. I look up and swallow the piece of food that is in my mouth.
"Yes I love her." Her mouth twitches in an evil smile.
"You are whipped." She sings.
"I am not whipped and you are not spending anymore time with Uncle Max and Aunt Jessica." I point my fork at her.
"Papa, you fell asleep hearing mama's voice." Well she's not lying.
"And I call her because I know she calm you." She shrugs and continues eating.
"She can't calm me down." Yes, yes she can.
I have never saw my daughter with a smirk on her face before. "Sure papa. Sure."
I can't say anything because the doorbell rings. I rise up from my seat, throw a glare at my daughter and go to open the door.
Bryan stands there with papers in his hands. "Boss, I have good news." He hands me the papers and keeps on talking.
"You won. You just need to sign some things. She will go behind bars for the rest of her life." Oh my. I thank him quickly and close the door.
A tear slips from my eye just as Maya steps in the room. "Dada, are you okay?" I nod.
"Yeah, don't worry. These are happy tears." She nods and gives me a hug.
"How about I take you out on a little date, princess?" It's been a long time since we did it. She nods and rushes upstairs to change.
I take out my phone and call Max. As soon as he picks up I speak.
"I fucking won."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maya is in a yellow sundress and white shoes. I'm wearing a white button up with grey slacks and brown patent shoes and black belt.
She hold her little flowers I got for her with one hand, the other one is holding my finger.
I open the restaurants door for her and ask for a table of two. I put her on her chair and sit down. I order spaghetti for her and roasted chicken with potatoes and salad for me.
We begin eating and talking about her upcoming family day in kindergarten. I pay and drive to the park where we meet with her mama.
I unbuckle her and place her on my hip. I lean down and whisper in her ear. "Tell mama twice that you love her. One for you and one for me." She nods and runs to her mommy.
I look at her and see a faint bruise on her forearm. They say goodbye and I give them a little wave.
