Page 127 of Pelvic Flaws

I looked over at Savannah who was now talking to her dolls and nodded. “Yes, I do. It’s teething problems, that’s all.”

“But, she’s struggling. She’s not sleeping, she’s clingy, and we battle all the time.”

“Kids battle with their parents, Dex, but she’s also testing your boundaries. She’s a bright little girl, she knows you’re new to this so if she can get away with things she didn’t with her grandma, or her foster mum, then she’ll try it.”

“You think that’s all it is? You don’t think she hates me?”

I laughed. “Maybe, and even if she doesn’t, she will at some point over the next twenty years or so, until maybe she becomes a parent herself.”

Dex’s eyes darkened and I saw his protective nature was already there.

“She will meet a man one day who takes your place Dex,” I giggled. “So you may as well start preparing yourself for that now.”

He grunted something about ‘little fucker better watch out’, and then pulled me into a hug.

“Thanks darlin’. I was beginning to think I’d done the worst thing possible by her by bringing her here.”

“No you haven’t, but I don’t doubt somewhere down the line she’ll say you have. When you won’t let her go out with the ‘little fucker’,” I whispered. Dex laughed and hugged me tighter. “Dex, I know we’ve only mentioned this, but I am here to help. I’m happy to do this with you, if that’s what you want.”

Dex pulled away, looking down at me, his eyes hesitant. “Are you sure? I know this has kinda messed up what we had going on, but I think we can still get where we were going to. I just don’t want you to think I only want a baby momma.”

“I don’t,” I urged. “You made it clear what you wanted before you even knew about Savannah, so I don’t think that at all.”

“This wasn’t in your plan though, Katie Cat. You were clear about that.”

I shrugged. “Maybe I was, but things change and I know we can’t predict the future, but as long as you want me and I want you, I’m more than happy to help you and for us to progress. You let my baby puke all over you, so it’s the least I can do to return the favor.”

Dex gave me a brilliant, but tired smile and I hoped that for now I’d help alleviate his worry.

“Listen,” I said, standing on tiptoe and planting a quick kiss on his lips. “Why don’t you go and play with Savannah, or maybe put a film on and I’ll finish the lunch?”

“You okay with that?”

I nodded and pushed him toward his daughter, with a little slap to his bum. Within twenty minutes, he was fast asleep on the sofa, while Finding Nemo played on the TV, and Savannah watched with rapt attention. Even though I was disappointed my afternoon sex session had been put off, I felt content and excited for the future.

Katie

“Now,” I said, looking at each of my kids individually. “I want you to be kind and nice to Savannah, she’s a long way from home and has recently lost her grandma, so sometimes she’s a little sad.”

“Mum,” Charlie groaned. “We know, you’ve told us three times already.”

“Four,” Isaac corrected.

“There was the time where she started to tell us and then got distracted when the doorbell rang,” Annie added, looking at her nails. “So you could actually say five.”

“Four and a half,” Isaac stated.

“Okay, okay,” I huffed. “I get it, I’m a nag.”

“Not a nag as such.” Isaac grinned at me.

“Hey, Mum,” Charlie called, his head inside the cupboard under the stairs. “Do you think Savannah would like my old Toy Story DVDs?”

My heart expanded as I moved to the lounge door to watch my boy pulling out DVDs, board games, and books.

“I’ve got loads of stuff she can have.”

He appeared with a huge grin on his cute face, his overgrown hair brushing against his lashes.

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