Page 93 of Johnathan

“I’m glad you got to rest. I did think about crawling into bed with you when I saw you were asleep, but I wanted you to rest. Now, I’m the one with an ache in my belly.” Abby bit her lower lip and fuck, it was impossible for him not to kiss her. Her hands traveled up his neck and into his hair, his eyes rolling back as she tugged gently at his roots.

His hand traced a path up her thigh, running over the thin fabric that curved around her hip.

“Lace? For me?” he asked as he peppered kisses down her neck.

“Yes,” she moaned into his shoulder. “I know it’s your favorite.”

“Mm, it is.”

“DADDY!!” Katy called out from her room.

“Looks like the princess has woken up.”

John took a step back and sighed as he helped Abby off the counter. “I’m happy to report I have an honorary doctorate in taking care of those sorts of tummy aches, but you’ll have to be a good girl and wait until after dinner.”

“I think I can do that.” She winked and turned back to the stove.

Twenty-Eight

It had been a perfectly domestic day. Everything Abby thought of when she thought of taking care of her family. Of course, she didn’t love that Katy was sick, but she loved that John trusted her enough to take care of his daughter.

Katy had come out, rubbing her eyes and asking for something to eat, just as they finished washing the dishes and picking up from their meal. Abby situated her on the couch with some fruit cereal and Katy quickly found her way to Abby’s lap. John wasn’t far behind, rubbing little circles onto his daughter’s back. She’d fallen asleep not even ten minutes later.

Now an hour into some nature documentary John put on, Abby looked down at Katy, laying across her lap still fast asleep. She brushed away a strand of her hair and smiled as John squeezed her other hand.

“You seem more relaxed than when I got here,” she whispered.

“I think every parent hates seeing their kid sick, but I don’t know why it throws me into a panic. What if I don’t take her symptoms seriously enough? Kids get sick all the time, but what if I brush it off as a stomach bug and it’s really somethingthat ends up landing her in the hospital? I don’t have maternal instincts to listen to, and I don’t want to fail her.”

“You are such a great father. It’s so clear that she feels loved and safe and cherished. No one has a crystal ball, but you are doing a wonderful job with her. Your paternal instinct is enough.”

He laughed. “You know, when she’s been sick in the past, I’ve called my mom in a panic.”

“But you didn’t today.”

“For the first time, I had a partner here with me. I had you.”

Abby smiled. “I’m glad I was able to help a little.”

“A little? You did our laundry, cared for Katy, let me have some time to myself after a rough night with little sleep. You are amazing, Abby. But even if you just came over and spent all day cuddled up on this couch with Katy and me, I would still be in your debt.”

“No…”

“Yes. Sure, Katy loves when my mom is here, doting on her, but I’ve never seen her want anyone other than me when she’s sick.”

Abby looked down at the beautiful little girl in her lap and felt tears well in her eyes.

“She’s the sweetest little girl I’ve ever met, John. I love her with my whole heart.”

“I know you do, baby. So why are there tears in your eyes?”

“I don’t want anything to happen to either of you. I don’t want to lose her.”

“You’re not going to lose her. Why would you think that?”

She sat silently as John’s free hand came up and gently brushed at the lip she had trapped between her teeth.

“Stop biting your lip, Abby, and tell me what you’re thinking.”

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