The Single Dad

ircles, my body shifting, swinging, a feeling entered. I didn't under

ild a wall where n

y arms, but I'm going to tell you something." I pressed my lips against her forehead, breathing her in, her scent so clean and pow

O

freshly washed curls in my hands so she wouldn't feel the tangles as I

ish me good l

d. "Good l

ections, starting the painful process of weaving. "I swea

easy. You been do

your old man some slack, littl

hough I applied equal tightness to each layer, maint

Partially

I tr

d the bottom and kissed

rel

k you're going to be a c

e, wiggling her body until her back was against the pillows. The moment she was settled, s

uffed

her bed, which had to be arranged in a specifi

at had become one of my f

nced and upright, just how she liked them. I finished by placing

ll you that every night. She needs

the pink skirt we'd bought for the animal, and then adjusted

Now, kiss each

ch

d dreams if we don't kiss

pped when I reached my baby's forehead, where I left my lips as I said, "

urse,

this four-year-old's mouth

led her belly. "I think you

'm always a goo

strand behind her ear. "You know, I'm going

der brothers and best friends; they we

and pouted. "Tell t

I smile

kes, and I'm waiting. That

pancakes yesterda

with gobs of chocolate and whip-" She slapped her hand ove

I couldn't tell she was hyped up on sugar and cove

im and that he owes you big." I pushed more loose strands off

"I want him to take me to the house on the giant mountai

o to his house

most desired places to visit. Mine too. There was nothing like escaping to the moun

, si

est. "I'm afraid of the teenage version of you. It's a good thing I

going to b

hat I'm a

little negotiator, I know there's still a few hours left before you have to go to bed, but in the meantime, l

n fight in your b

initely won't be any of that, do you hear me?" I p

"But it was s

e was born. Even though she now chose her own shampoo and I no longer rubbed her chunky limbs with lotion, her scent, to me,

te tonight, so I won't s

having a

est of hair. "She is. Are you going

nnah sleeps with m