Page 73 of Loving Kai

“Mom?”

She glanced at him. “He has to learn that he can’t always get his way.”

Abe looked down at Kai, who stopped crying to look up at him and whimper. “Can I pick him up?”

“Give it a minute.”

Abe shook his head. “I can’t. That look is killing me.”

“He knows exactly what he’s doing.”

Abe sighed, then groaned and picked Kai up. “Sorry. I can’t handle that face.” He wiped Kai’s face with the bottom of his T-shirt. “Okay, kid. You’re okay.” He bounced Kai a few times and looked at Allie. “Does this make me a bad parent?”

She smiled. “No.”

“I didn’t just spoil him?”

“No.”

Abe looked at Kai, who was smiling at him. “Hmm. Somehow, I think I just got played.”

Allie laughed. “As I said, he knew exactly what he was doing.”

“That was smooth, kid.”

“You really need to stop calling him kid. He’s going to think that’s his name.”

“I’ll stop calling him kid when he stops calling me Papa.”

Kai patted Abe’s chest. “Papa.”

Allie picked up the last bit of stuff from the floor. “I think maybe you’re stuck with it, honey.”

“Okay, kid. Have it your way.”

Alley kissed Kai on the cheek. “Go put him to bed and then come down and put this stroller together. You’ll need it for the rodeo tomorrow.”

“There’s a perfectly good stroller in the Quonset hut.”

“Like I said, no more hand-me-downs.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Abe headed for the guest room with Kai in his arms. He laid him down in the crib, and Kai sat up. “Time for bed, buddy.”

Kai stood and started bouncing. “Dog.”

“Right. We need Dog.” The toy was on the floor under the crib, and Abe retrieved it, then handed it to Kai. “Here you go.”

Kai hugged the cat, then lay down. Abe covered him with a blanket and patted his leg. “Goodnight…son.”

“Papa.”

“Alright. I give up. Papa loves you. What do you think about that?” He watched Kai for a moment. “Go to sleep now.” He bent down and kissed him on the forehead. Kai held up the cat, and Abe kissed it too. “Goodnight, Dog.”

He turned on the nightlight, then switched off the overhead light, before going out the door and closing it halfway. He stood in the hallway for a moment, then smiled and joined Allie in the living room.

John had come inside, and she was trying to justify her shopping trip.

“I just wanted to get him a few things.”