A Hand To Hold | Cglre |

Chapter 19: First meeting

Ian's POV

I glanced down at Sophie, feeling a rush of warmth as her little hand squeezed mine. The airport bustled around us, a cacophony of announcements, rolling luggage, and chattering travelers. Despite the chaos, Sophie's presence grounded me, reminding me of what truly mattered.

Sophie nodded enthusiastically, her pigtails bouncing. "Dada! Me hungry?"

I chuckled, pulling out my phone. I know she isn't hungry since she just had a couple snacks Evelyn had packed, but rather was trying to get something else, maybe some cookies I know she loves. "Let's text Mama first, then we'll see about those snacks." As I typed out a quick message to Evelyn, I noticed Sophie fidgeting uncomfortably, shifting from foot to foot.

"Hey, Sophie," I said gently, "do you need a diaper change?"

Sophie's face scrunched up, and she shook her head vigorously. "No change, Dada," she mumbled, burying her face in my shoulder as I picked her up. Sophie is still very nervous and uncomfortable about diaper changes, which is understandable.

I sighed, recognizing the signs of her slipping further into her little space. It wasn't surprising, given the stress and excitement of travel. "I think you do, sweetpea. Come on, let's get you sorted out."

We made our way to the family bathroom, Sophie clinging to me tightly. Her little fingers gripped my shirt, and I could feel her heart racing against my chest. Once inside, I set her down and knelt in front of her, meeting her eyes.

"Sophie," I said softly, "is it okay if I change you? Or would you prefer to do it yourself?"

Sophie hesitated, her bottom lip quivering slightly. Then, in a small voice, she whispered, "You do it, Dada."

I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "Alright, sweetpea. Let's make this quick so we can go find those snacks, yeah?"

As I changed her, I kept up a steady stream of chatter to distract her. "You know, Grandma and Grandpa have a huge backyard. Maybe we can convince them to get a puppy for you to play with when we visit."

Sophie's eyes lit up, momentarily forgetting her discomfort. "Really, Dada? A puppy?"

I laughed, fastening the fresh diaper. "Well, we'll have to ask them. But wouldn't that be fun? You could teach it tricks and play fetch."

"And cuddle it!" Sophie added excitedly.

"Absolutely," I agreed, helping her into fresh pajamas. "You'd be the best puppy teacher ever."

After getting Sophie cleaned up, we headed to a nearby coffee shop. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, making my stomach growl. I ordered a sandwich and coffee for myself and two cookies for Sophie, but as we sat down, Sophie kept eyeing my food.

"Dada, can I have some?" she asked, her eyes wide and pleading.