Read Online #Holiday: A Hashtag Series Short Story (Hashtag #6.5) by Cambria Hebert - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cambria Hebert
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combined.
She was the first one up, of course. I’d heard her fussing in the bassinet right beside the bed and jumped up to get her before Ivy was awakened.
“Shh,” I told her softly, lifting her and cradling her against my chest. I grabbed up an extra blanket and tucked it around her before strolling toward the window on the other side of the room.
She looked up at me with wide blue eyes that were so much like Ivy’s I was amazed.
“Mommy doesn’t have to compete with you,” I told her. “Because Mommy is the one who made you. It’s like I said a long time ago, before you were even a thought. She’s number one’s mom.”
Nova smiled.
There was nothing like it. I was the first person she smiled at.
It was because she liked me best.
When I announced that, there was voiced doubt she even smiled. Gas they said. A fluke. She was too little to smile…
Blah, blah, blah.
“Who loves her daddy?” I asked.
She smiled again.
See? She was totally smitten by me.
Her lower lip began to wobble, and I made a sound of distress. “Don’t be starting that,” I told her. “You know I can’t handle it. You’re all good. We’re chilling.”
I reached over and tugged the curtain back. The sun was up, which I thought was a bonus, and it had snowed all throughout the night. A fresh coat of thick white covered everything, making as far as I could see look like an untouched painting.
I tucked her a little closer into my chest, and she turned her head toward me, seeking a bottle. She was hungry, but I wasn’t done holding her yet. Gently, I rocked her back and forth while I stared out at the snow and detailed all the things we would do when she was old enough to go out in it.
She was only a few months old and already I couldn’t imagine my life without her. I couldn’t imagine not loving her.
Sometimes it was a bittersweet feeling.
It made me reflect on what I didn’t have with my own father. It made me wonder why he never felt this way about me.
I could only conclude that something was broken inside him.
It didn’t matter, though, not anymore. He had passed. He’d never know the sweet girl in my arms, and though it was harsh, I counted it as a blessing.
I’d love this little girl enough for both of us, and she’d never know what it was like to have a father who didn’t care.
She started fussing at me again, louder this time.
“Shh,” I murmured. “Mommy’s sleeping. We don’t need none of her baby momma drama up in here on Christmas.”
“I knew it was something you’d say.” Her drowsy voice came from behind.
I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
Her laugh was throaty, and it reminded me of the sounds she made late last night when I woke her with my mouth between her thighs.
She pushed herself up to lean against the headboard and held out her hand.
Me and Nova climbed on the bed and settled beside her. Ivy cooed at the baby and laid her head on my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head and reveled in the moment.
Yeah, I guess I still had darkness in me.
But there was light now, too.
So much light.
Nova started crying, and Ivy leaned sideways to grab her pacifier off the nightstand and slip it into her eager mouth.
“I’ll go make her a bottle,” she said and started to slide away.
“Not so fast,” I growled and towed her back with my free arm. When she was against my side, I tilted up her chin and covered her mouth with mine. Before fully pulling away, I pressed one last soft kiss to the center of her slightly swollen lips. “Merry Christmas, baby,” I murmured. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, B.”
Nova made a noise, and we grinned at each other and got out of bed. I waited for Ivy to put on a pair leggings, furry slipper boots, and a fitted hoodie with some old-school holiday pattern on it. Even at the crack of dawn when I kept her up half the night making love, she still managed to look put together.
I merely slung a
She was the first one up, of course. I’d heard her fussing in the bassinet right beside the bed and jumped up to get her before Ivy was awakened.
“Shh,” I told her softly, lifting her and cradling her against my chest. I grabbed up an extra blanket and tucked it around her before strolling toward the window on the other side of the room.
She looked up at me with wide blue eyes that were so much like Ivy’s I was amazed.
“Mommy doesn’t have to compete with you,” I told her. “Because Mommy is the one who made you. It’s like I said a long time ago, before you were even a thought. She’s number one’s mom.”
Nova smiled.
There was nothing like it. I was the first person she smiled at.
It was because she liked me best.
When I announced that, there was voiced doubt she even smiled. Gas they said. A fluke. She was too little to smile…
Blah, blah, blah.
“Who loves her daddy?” I asked.
She smiled again.
See? She was totally smitten by me.
Her lower lip began to wobble, and I made a sound of distress. “Don’t be starting that,” I told her. “You know I can’t handle it. You’re all good. We’re chilling.”
I reached over and tugged the curtain back. The sun was up, which I thought was a bonus, and it had snowed all throughout the night. A fresh coat of thick white covered everything, making as far as I could see look like an untouched painting.
I tucked her a little closer into my chest, and she turned her head toward me, seeking a bottle. She was hungry, but I wasn’t done holding her yet. Gently, I rocked her back and forth while I stared out at the snow and detailed all the things we would do when she was old enough to go out in it.
She was only a few months old and already I couldn’t imagine my life without her. I couldn’t imagine not loving her.
Sometimes it was a bittersweet feeling.
It made me reflect on what I didn’t have with my own father. It made me wonder why he never felt this way about me.
I could only conclude that something was broken inside him.
It didn’t matter, though, not anymore. He had passed. He’d never know the sweet girl in my arms, and though it was harsh, I counted it as a blessing.
I’d love this little girl enough for both of us, and she’d never know what it was like to have a father who didn’t care.
She started fussing at me again, louder this time.
“Shh,” I murmured. “Mommy’s sleeping. We don’t need none of her baby momma drama up in here on Christmas.”
“I knew it was something you’d say.” Her drowsy voice came from behind.
I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
Her laugh was throaty, and it reminded me of the sounds she made late last night when I woke her with my mouth between her thighs.
She pushed herself up to lean against the headboard and held out her hand.
Me and Nova climbed on the bed and settled beside her. Ivy cooed at the baby and laid her head on my shoulder. I kissed the top of her head and reveled in the moment.
Yeah, I guess I still had darkness in me.
But there was light now, too.
So much light.
Nova started crying, and Ivy leaned sideways to grab her pacifier off the nightstand and slip it into her eager mouth.
“I’ll go make her a bottle,” she said and started to slide away.
“Not so fast,” I growled and towed her back with my free arm. When she was against my side, I tilted up her chin and covered her mouth with mine. Before fully pulling away, I pressed one last soft kiss to the center of her slightly swollen lips. “Merry Christmas, baby,” I murmured. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, B.”
Nova made a noise, and we grinned at each other and got out of bed. I waited for Ivy to put on a pair leggings, furry slipper boots, and a fitted hoodie with some old-school holiday pattern on it. Even at the crack of dawn when I kept her up half the night making love, she still managed to look put together.
I merely slung a
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