Page 39 of Bossy Baby

Hayley walked over and rested his good hand on the handle. He could just take a peek. It was probably a cute balcony. Nothing surprising. But Hayley just felt like there was something big behind those doors. He didn’t know why.

“You can open them.”

Hayley screeched, jumping and almost tripping over his own feet.

Smiling, Mac walked over to him. “Sorry, I thought you heard me walking up the stairs.”

“What…” He waved toward the room.

Mac lifted an eyebrow. “I guess you’ll have to open the doors to find out.”

Hayley sighed. He wasn’t even surprised by the answer. There was nothing bad through there, though. Hayley was sure.

Hayley bit his lip. “I don’t know why I’m nervous. This just feels like a big moment for some reason.”

“How about we do it together?”

“Please.”

Mac reached out to the handles and placed his hand over Hayley’s.

“Ready?”

Hayley bounced. “Open it! I’m dying here!”

Mac swung the doors open with a flourish.

Hayley stood there. Bright light flooded the room from the large windows. He could only stare at the most perfect room in the entire word.

“Ta-da?” Mac said, like he was being funny.

Hayley recognized Mac’s nerves now, though.

This was amazing. Mac was amazing. Everything… Wow, Hayley was getting overwhelmed again.

He took a few steps inside before turning in a circle. Along one wall was a twin bed with a dark blue spread covered in stars. A large black rocking chair sat in the corner. The window seat on the next wall had the same dark blue printed pillows. The rest of the walls were covered by shelves all holding bright containers.

Hayley strode over to the closest container and peered inside. Cars. Little cars that he could play with.

“What do you think?”

Hayley turned. Mac stood just inside the door, rubbing the back of his head. His poor Daddy was so uncertain.

Hayley stepped on the middle of the dark thick rug that had the entire solar system picture on it. “This might be the most perfect room I’ve ever been in.”

Mac froze, his hand still behind him. “Really?”

“Mac, this room is unbelievable. I can’t wait to spend my weekends in here. I’m never going to want to leave it.”

He was gifted with one of Mac’s rare truly radiant smiles.

“We can change anything you want. And I left plenty of room to make additions. I need to know what things you want. I’ll get you everything you want.”

“I don’t want you to change anything!” Hayley exclaimed. “Although I’d love to be able to pick things out together.”

Mac nodded and hurried to him. “These two rows of containers are things I thought we could do together, but I didn’t want to decide on everything. I wanted things you chose, too.” He waved his hand at the other wall and the rest of the shelves close to them. “We have so many boxes to fill.”

That was…awesome. Mac wasn’t trying to bulldoze his own wants onto Hayley. Mac understood that Hayley needed to have a say—he’d simply gotten them started. Hayley leapt.

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