Lay Me Down

Part 18

The way she greets me at the door with her arms wide open after a long day at work. Or how her eyes lite up every time she sees me. Maybe it was the way her laugh sounded when she thinks I'm being funny. I think it might be the how she randomly looks at me and says, 'daddy you're my sunshine.' Being a father is easily the hardest thing I've ever done or will do. But she's my motivation to work hard and be a better person every single day. Some days are easier than others and the tantrums or non stop crying get overwhelming but she is a part of me and her little tiny world revolves around me. To her I'm the king of the castle and her protector and I never want that to change.

I watch Adele and Georgie from across the street in my car eating outside at their favourite cafe. They both look so happy without a care in the world and that's how I always want it. A deep breath exhales from my chest and I grip the steering wheel and watch as my knuckles turn white. My life wouldn't be the same without my daughter and the thought of Carla just wanting to toss her away angered me more with every thought. But I couldn't stop her. As badly as I want Georgie to have her mother in her life, I can't force it but she has Adele. If Adele wasn't the perfect example of someone stepping up to be a mother than I don't know what is. She's there to do carpool when I can't or for the late nights when Georgie is sick and I need help. As angry as I was I felt relieved that the three of us had each other and at the end of the day that's all I could ask for.

'Daddy!' Georgie screamed when she saw me walking over towards them. 'Baby belle! What are you doing?' I asked approaching their table. 'You want some of my cookie? It's really yummy!' She asked while I bent over and gave Adele a kiss. 'Oh, thanks! Did you have fun with Adele today?' I sat down in the empty chair and took a sip of some water. 'It was super fun, dad. We played and went shopping and then we did more stuff.' She was practically jumping out of her seat from excitement. 'Wow! That sounds like a lot of fun. Do you wanna go to the park again so daddy can have fun too?' Her eyes lit up like saucers. 'Ahhh! Let's go!' She screamed. The three of us got into my car and drove to the park. Once there Georgie jumped out and ran straight towards the swings. 'Be right there.' I yelled. Adele grabbed my hand and intertwined it with hers. 'So how'd the call go?' I swiftly glanced at her before moving my gaze back to Georgie. 'Bad.' She stopped walking and pulled me back with her. 'What do you mean?' I put my hands in my pockets and starred off into the distance. 'Carla doesn't want her anymore. She said she's done and in her words we can have her. How could someone do that to a little girl.' My eyes started welling up with tears and I tried my hardest to hold them back. 'Are you serious? She doesn't want to see her own daughter anymore? You know we can't make her be a mother.' Adele leaned into me for a hug and I wrapped myself around her. 'How can you give up on someone so innocent?' Tears streamed down my face and I didn't try to hide them this time. 'So what do we tell her?' Adele asked wiping my eyes. 'The truth.' I responded.

We stood and talked for a while longer before Georgie ran up to us. 'Come play with me?' She begged yanking on our jackets. I looked at Adele and then back at Georgie. 'We need to talk to you first. Is that okay?' I asked. 'I guess.' I picked her up and we walked over to a bench by the sand boxes. 'You know me and Adele love you very much, right.' She nodded in agreement as she played with my fingers. 'Remember last night when you were sad and you told us about mummy's house.' Adele asked. 'I'm not sad anymore.' She said leaning her head against my shoulder. 'We know and we're really happy. But how would you like to stay with us for as long as you want.' Adele said. Georgie sat up straight and looked at me and then Adele and then back at me. 'Forever?' She asked. 'If that's what you want.' I said. 'Will mummy be mad?' She asked looking down and playing with the zipper on her jacket. Adele and I looked at each other, unsure of what to say. 'Your mum loves you very much and wants you to be happy and play.' Adele calmly said. 'I want to stay with you daddy.' She said as she wrapped her arms around my neck. ' I'm so glad.' I said hugging her back. When she finished with her hug, Georgie turned around and moved to Adele's lap. She wrapped her arms around her and then looked up. 'Adele?' She asked. 'Yes, baby?' There was a moment of silence. 'I want you to be my mummy because you love me a lot and make me chicken nuggets. That's what a good mummy does.' She nestled her head back under Adele's chin. I looked at Adele, who had tears falling down her face. 'I would love to be your mum.'