Page 76 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

I shot her an incredulous look. “When the woman I love and my son live here?No.”

She beamed, so happy at my reply. “Then tell her!”

“I would. If she were here.” I frowned as I looked at my watch. So far, she hadn’t been one of the parents walking in for theHolidays with My Familypresentation that was being set up in the library.

“Where is she?” She frowned. “George’s big presentation will start soon.”

I nodded. “Look, we’ll talk later.”

“Okay. We will.”

After I disconnected the call, I checked my texts and frowned again. Nothing from Blake. She knew how important this was for George. She wouldn’t miss it. And I checked her alarms on her phone. Volume on. AM versus PM correct.

Zach:Hey, where are you?

Blake:I’m feeling sick.

“Dammit.” I sighed and checked the time again. If she couldn’t pull herself together and rush here, she’d miss it. It had to be more of that inconvenient stomach bug. Half the staff had been absent because of it. It was a contagious bug, that was for sure, ruining plans and keeping people home.

I pictured George standing on that little stage and holding up his poster he made of his family tree. Looking for his mom in the audience and not finding her.

No way. Not happening.I jogged down the hall, searching for the preschool rooms. Ms. Erin was guiding kids out in an orderly line, but I passed her until I saw George sulking with his head down in line.

“Hey, kiddo.”Hello, Son.Elation filled me, but I wouldn’t trespass on Blake’s parenting and tell him the news. It had to come from her. From both of us, and suddenly, I couldn’t fucking wait to tell this smart and caring boy that I was his father.

“Hi, Mr. Zach.” He looked up at me, scuffing his toes on the floor at the end of the line.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Brent was talking.” He tipped his head toward the head of the line where the bully joked with another boy. “And he said Mama won’t be out there watching me. No one will come up to stand with me when it’s my turn. Because she’ll be busy working and she’s all I got.” He lowered his arm, letting his poster drag on the floor.

My heart ached. It split in half and I wanted to rage at the idea of him this sad.

“No. Not true.” I crouched to his level. What sucked was that I doubted she’d be there, too sick to come. “I mean, she does work too much, if you ask me, but that will probably change.” It would. Fuck her struggling and being too proud to take or ask for help. As my wife, she’d learn to balance being a caterer and a mother. I smiled at the idea of it.

My son.

My wife.

This was the best damn Christmas to look forward to ever. Pieces were falling into place quickly, at a blurring speed, but it felt so right.

“George, your mom just texted me that she’s sick. I think she’s got the stomach bug and she won’t be here.”

He sniffled.

“Here, I know.” I gestured for him to bring his poster into the room before the class filed off toward the library. I grabbed a spare construction paper leaf, wroteSgt. Zachary West. Then I glued it to a branch parallel to the leaf he had withMamaon it.

He gawked at me.

“Your mom’s not here, but I am.”

He blinked at the leaf I glued on. “But… but you’re not my dad.”

I smiled, excited for when I could correct him about that. “Maybe I can be, right?” I wouldn’t tell him anything definitive without Blake here. But I worded it loosely enough to support him with the possibility.

He smiled, slowly at first until it was so big it covered his whole face. “Okay.”

I patted his back, then looked back at his poster. He’d put Amanda and Grandma Jenny on there too, but their leaves would need to be arranged. He had an aunt. He had a great-grandma. He hadme, too. “So you go on out there, and when it’s your turn, I’ll be there.”

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