Page 27 of Until I Have You

Because Theo Wallington put it there.

6

THEO

The man scowling backat me looks like shit.

Looking in the mirror, I touch my cheek.Need a shave.

Damned genetics making a single day without shaving make me look like a vagabond.

Down the hall, there’s pitter patter of little feet.

Lessens the blow of my poor self-perception, knowing Bonnie is rushing to see me.

I stand up straighter and lean on the bathroom counter with the matching jack-and-jill sink.Meant for a husband and wife, surely.

But when you’re a middle-aged bachelor single dad, the natural conclusion for these sinks is one for yourself and one for your child.

The more time I can spend with someone, the better.Loneliness sets in too easily these days.

Bonnie leaps into the doorway.“Boo!”

“Oh, my!”I shout with a hand to my chest, pretending she’s got me.

“Did I scare you?”She grins, putting her hand on her knees.

“Yes, I’m afraid I might pass out.”

Bonnie laughs and comes over to me, grabbing my arm.“Daddy, it’s just me.”

“Thank heavens.”

I bend over and grab Bonnie’s stool out from its place tucked away between the toilet and tub.“All right, love, time to brush your teeth.”

“Ugh.I hate brushing my teeth,” she grumbles, leaning up against the sink.

I put the stool before the sink and pat it.“One day, you’ll realize toothbrushing is preferable to cavities.Now up.”

Bonnie huffs and climbs the two steps so her torso is above the sink.“I’m just going to lose all these teeth anyway.What’s the point?”

“It makes your father very happy.”I pick up her Paw Patrol toothbrush and squeeze out the bubblegum flavored toothpaste for her.

“Oh, okay, I’ll do it, then.”

I hand her the toothbrush.“Thank you.”I know I shouldn’t be bribing her with my happiness, but for the small things, surely it’s all right.“You have no idea what this means to me.”

Bonnie rolls her eyes.“Don’t be dramatic, Daddy.”

I chuckle as I ready my toothbrush.

Bonnie waits until I start brushing to brush herself.

We watch each other in the mirror, scrubbing our teeth and making faces at each other, which causes the foam to cluster at the corners of our moths.A little tradition we’ve had since she started brushing her teeth by herself.

I already feel the little traditions slipping away as she’s gotten older, now a first grader and starting to develop her independence.

However, since our transatlantic move, Bonnie’s strengthened her grip on me.On the routines and habits we’ve had in the years since Esme’s disappearance from her life.

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