Page 82 of Loving Kai

Abe shook his head. “I’m glad you find that so amusing. If you haven’t noticed, you’re wet too.” Kai splashed the water repeatedly with his hands, getting Maggie and the floor wet. “Maggie, look what you started. You’re cleaning this mess up.”

“Yes, sir.” She pulled the plug, then stood and grabbed a towel. “Come on, Kai. Papa says we can’t play anymore.” She lifted him out of the tub, wrapped a towel around him, and followed Abe to the bedroom.

She set him on the bed to dry him off, and he got away from her and ran across the bed. Maggie laughed, and Abe scowled. “If he pees on my bed…”

“He won’t. Come on, honey. Let’s get jammies on.”

Kai went to her and hugged her, then cooperated while she got him diapered and into his pajamas. She looked at Abe when Kai was ready for bed. “What now?”

“A book.”

Kai clapped his hands. “Book, book.”

He slid off the bed, then went to the bookshelf, which now held a dozen storybooks on the bottom shelf. Kai sat down and began pulling books off the shelf. He looked at each one, then set it aside. When he’d looked at them all, he went back to the first one he’d picked up and got to his feet. “Book.”

Abe picked him up. “Let’s go read your book.”

Maggie followed them to the living room, and he looked at her. “Do you want to read the book to him?”

“No. I didn’t mean to take over. He’s just so darn cute. Go ahead, I’ll sit over here.” She sat in the chair while Abe sat on the couch with Kai on his lap and started to read the book out loud.

Kai looked at Maggie. “Book.”

“It’s a good one.”

He leaned over and patted the couch next to Abe. “Book.”

She stood and joined them on the couch.

After the book, Abe put Kai to bed, then joined Maggie, who had stayed in the living room. “Pretty good day.”

“It was great. I should go. I’ve already monopolized your first night with Kai.”

“I’m glad you were here. You’re right, though. You should go.”

She smiled. “Are you afraid to be alone with me, Abe?”

“A little bit, yeah. I don’t quite trust myself.”

She held out her arms. “Papa hug?”

“Oh my gosh, don’t even.”

Maggie laughed. “I will see you tomorrow at work.”

“Thank you for coming with us today.”

“Anytime.”

He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Um…yeah. You should…”

“I’m going.” She went to the door and opened it. “Have a good night with Kai.”

“As long as he sleeps, it will be.”

She turned to him. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Maggie.”