Page 20 of Merry with a Single Dad

Following him to the kitchen, I realized the worst thing about being this sick—not sleeping together. We hadn’t kissed or made love in days, and now that I was on the mend, I realized how much I missed it—how much I missed him. Knowing my body, Iknew I wasn’t well enough for physical activities, but I couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.

“I got plain cheese pizza for you guys. And some minestrone soup.”

I was about to reach for the pizza since Hudson and I had chicken noodle earlier, but when Chris lifted the lid and the tantalizing aroma of basil, rosemary, and bay leaves hit my nose, my mouth watered.

Chris’s warm chuckle of laughter had me blushing all over again. “It’s good to see you’re getting your appetite back.” He filled a bowl, then jerked his head for me to follow him to the table.

He set me up and peeked over at Hudson before retreating to the kitchen to plate his food. Heart melting at his inherent desire to take care of us first, I watched and waited for him to return.

“Thank you for taking such good care of us,” I said.

“I love you, baby. There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you guys.”

I smiled around my mouthful of minestrone as he sent me a wink. I filled him in on Hudson and my day together.

“His fever finally broke,” I said. “I think we’re over the worst of it.”

“I’m lucky you were here to help him.”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him. Or you,” I echoed his earlier sentiment.

“Can you help me change the sheets on your bed?” I asked, not caring at all that my voice had a needy, desperate quality to it.

“Are you sure you don’t need another night to?—”

“I don’t think you have to worry about catching anything from me. And I hate that you have to sleep on the couch.”

“It’s not so bad,” Chris said.

“I think the one thing that would make me feel better is having you next to me.”

“That would make me feel better, too,” he said, squeezing my hand.

“Then it’s settled,” I said.

“Emmy?” Hudson called groggily.

“Emmy?” Chris asked. “When’d that start?”

“Today,” I said. “Isn’t it sweet? I’m Emmy.” My chest tightened in the most wonderful way as I touched my hand to my heart.

“Daddy?” Hudson said when his eyes landed on Chris.

“Hey, buddy.” Unfathomable love swelled within as I watched Chris check Hudson over from head to toe. What melted me even more into a puddle of liquid goo was Luke laying his head next to Hudson’s as the other three sat protectively at his feet.

“I’m hungry,” Hudson said, his spirits brighter than hours before.

“I guess Emmy’s been taking good care of you, huh?” Chris said as Hudson scooted up into a seated position.

“We took care of each other,” Hudson said.

“That’s right. The best.” I winked at him. “Dad brought us pizza for dinner if you’re up for it.”

“And soup,” Chris added.

“We had soup for lunch,” Hudson said.

“I heard. Chicken noodle, right?”

---