I wake up to an empty spot where you would usually be lying down. "Huh... up before me? That's a first..." I groggily mutter under my breath. I get up and head to the kitchen to make breakfast. I don't know why nut when I walk into the kitchen I feel a little disappointed.... maybe cause I thought you'd be there? That doesn't stop me from eating though. As I go to get the eggs and bacon from the fridge it could hear the patter of little feet and I smile as I go ahead and load the yogurt and strawberries on my arms as well. "Daddy..." a tired croaky little voice calls from behind me. I put the items on the counter and turn to my 6 year old daughter Nini. As I raise my arms out to pick her up and hug her I say "¿Buenos días mija como estás?" She looks at me, smiles, and says "papa.... tengo hambre..." I smile back to her... relishing this bond I have with her... one that Jessica doesn't have. "Oh... ¿Que quieres comer mija?" She looks at me confused and all she can say is "uhhhh". I smile at her and say "It is a bit early for this huh? It means "What would you like to eat." " She smiles at me and points to the yogurt and strawberries. "Ah! Just like your mother... I knew that what you'd want..." she smiles then looks around the room confused. "Papi... where's mommy?" I shrug my shoulders and say "I'm not sure mija... she might be on a run... walking Toby... is the car in the driveway?" She runs off into the living room to look out of the window. "Nooo." "Ok then sweetheart, mommy may be at the store." She walks back in to the kitchen and sits at the table watching me interested as I manage to cut the strawberries for her, fry eggs, and flip bacon. I finish up and head over to the table. As I set Ninis bowl of yogurt and straw berries in front of her I kiss her on the forehead and sit in front of her with my breakfast.
"Daddy... how are you able to do all that?
"All of what Nini?"
She points at the dirty dishes in the sink. A little confused I look at her puzzled and ask
"Do you mean the cooking?"
"Yeah"
"Oh... well... when daddy was younger I was the oldest out of a lot of kids... your tíos and tías.... and I would help abuela take care of everyone... cook, clean, everything mija..."
She looks at me and asks "How many brothers and sister do you have daddy?" "I have 8 brothers and sisters growing up..." she looks at me amazed at how many kids there were "DADDY... WILL I HAVE THAT MANY?!" I almost spit out my coffee... I wasn't sure what to say... I couldn't just tell her "I hope not..." so I decided to play it safe... "Uhh look mija... that's a question for mommy... ok?" I smirk a little knowing Jess would have the same reaction. "Ok daddy..."
We both finish our breakfast and I sit Nini down and let her watch cartoons as I do the dishes. As I'm about to finish Nini comes up and asks me "Daddy can I help you?"
"You sure you wanna do this?"
"Yep" she holds her head up, proud of herself ... something she gets from her mother. I shrug and tell her "Why not... there's only a couple left." So her and I finish the job with me checking her work everytime. "Ughhhh daddyyyy where's mommy?!?" Welp...there's my impatience... "Hmm I'm not sure hun... it's not like her to take this long without an update... and she usually has her phone on her..." Maybe her phone died... I should check. As I start to pull out my phone to call her I start to hear the door unlock and a voice fills the room "Babe? Nini? I'm hoooome." Right before I could think Nini runs into the next room "Mooommmmyyyyy!!!!"
"Hey baby... how was your morning with daddy?"
"It was good... we had breakfaaassst, did the dishessss, and watched cartoons..."
"Really?! That sounds awesome Nini!"
"It was... what about you mommy?! Where'd you go?!"
She smiles at Nini and whispers something into her ear. I'm watching as they exchange secrets. Curious I walk up and Nini runs off as I approach Jessi can't help but look into her eyes... she's still as beautiful as she was in high school.
"Hey babe" she smiles and I give her a quick kiss
"Heyyyy, hears you guys had a pretty good morning."
"Yeah nothing to crazy, and you?"
"Ohh yknow I had a couple errands and what not... speaking of would you go get the groceries."
"Sure thing, and thanks babe"
As I head out the door I hear her yell "No Prob!" As I load my arms with the bags and head back in Jess looks at me from the coach and giggles nodding left to right
As I wink at her and head to the kitchen she goes and hugs me from behind.
"I never understood why you can't make more than two trips to the car."
"Don't try" I tell her laughing a little myself. As she's hugging me I move to face her and pull her closer. I close my eyes and rest my chin on her head. It felt so good to have her wrapped in my arms. Perfect even. I've e loved Jessicaever since we were teens. She's my best friend... the love of my life. Everyday I thank god shes in my life cause I'm not sure what I'd do without her. She looks up to me and I look into her eyes.
Her eyes are beautiful... they're this sort of hazel brown that has little black flecks scattered across the iris and surrounding the iris was a black border that went in towards her pupil a little bit. They were simply beautiful... lost... she pecks me on the cheek saying
"Nick... nick...-"
"Huh? What's up babe?" I ask her intentionally acting goofy about it
Knowing what I'm up to she smiles.
"You're doing it again... dork"
"Yeah, I know"
I look down at her and put my forehead to hers and she's bringing her lips to mine. We kiss... and I get that feeling. The one that says everything is ok, everything is perfect, the feeling that you can only get from one person. As we stop we decide to go watch cartoons with a Nini... we sit down and Jess is cuddling into my side. Then Nilera looks at us and says "Mommy..."
Looking at Nini Jess smiles and asks her
"Yes my love?"
"Will I ever have 8 brothers and sisters like daddy had?"
Oh boy... I almost forgot. I look at Jess and she's frozen... she's not sure what to say either just as I had hoped. I'm trying hard not to laugh.
Stuttering she asks her
"Um-uh-I-Uhh... I'm not sure hun. W-why do you ask?"
"Well daddy said that's how many he had and I wanted to have that many... so I asked him and he said to ask you..."
Ratted out by the kid... Jess looks at me and my deviant smile turns to one that just says "uhh my bad?"
She shoots me a dirty look and looks back at Nilera with a sincere look in her eyes.
"Look hun... we're not too sure about that... cause... well that's a lot of kids Nini."
"Awww..." disappointed she looks down but perks back up
"What if I just wanted one more? Like a baby brother?! Is that okay mommy?!?"
She looks up at me and raises her eyebrows. Nilera quickly pick up and begs me "Cmon daddy pleeeeaasssee, I'd really like a baby brother. I'll even take care of him."
Well well well... got it Jess... tables turned...
I look Nilera at Jess and then Nilera and I tell her "Well Nini... see it ,at be a while..."
"Why?"
"Cause, we gotta get the stuff and make sure we have room, and yknow... we gotta ask Jesus so he can send the stork..."
She looks at me as if everything was all so clear now.
"Oooohhhh.... ok then... I'll wait."
Later on in the day Jess and I find each other laying next to each other watching Netflix.
"Good job with Nini babe"
"Huh oh thanks..."
"Yknow... I've been thinking... another baby wouldn't be so bad.."
Surprised I ask
"Really?!"
"I mean why not... we have all of Ninis old baby stuff... we have the room... it's not a bad idea....."
"I guess you're right... but what would we even name it?! Where would we even find the time to make one?" A little worried and excited about the idea...
"Babe.... sit up real quick.."
"What?" She's sitting up too and she says
"This morning... I didn't just go run errands.. I was at the hospital..."
"What?! What happened?! Why di-"
"Babe..." she looks me in the eye... a tear in her eye but she's smiling
"I'm pregnant...."
