Page 28 of Daddy's Little Dreamer

Trevor played with the rubber ducks, lining them up along the bathroom counter while I ran the water and poured in the bubbles. “Okay, sweet boy, time to step in.” He took my hand as I guided him in and sunk down into the water.

“Daddy, I forgot the duckies. Can you get them for me, please?”

“Incoming!” I bombed him with the duckies from overhead. Bubbles flew through the air carrying his giggles with them. My home had never been this full of life. Though other boys had been here, no one had ever had such exuberance for the simplest of things as Trevor had, nor had any been as appreciative.

I knelt on the fuzzy rug just outside the tub and pretended one of the ducks was a shark. “Da-dump. Da-dump. Da-dump, da-dump, da-dump. Whoosh.” I sunk one of the ducks.

“Noooo, not my sweet duckies. Bad sharkie!”

We played and played until he finally yawned and held up his hands. “I’m pruney, Daddy.”

“That you are. Let’s get you washed and dried off, then into your new jammies you go.” Glad I’d had the forethought to grab them from the dryer before we got started.

Dried and dressed, he slid his headband back on and took off. So much for being worn out. He wasn’t kidding when he said his brain never stopped. The zoomies were alive and well in this boy.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz, I’m a bee, Daddy.”

“Yes, you are, and the cutest one I’ve ever seen.”

His arms spread out as he flew through the house. “Be careful, sweet boy, you don’t want to slip and fall.”

I’d dried the floor as best I could, but let him run it off while I cleaned up and got myself ready for bed. With the house locked and the lights off, it was time for Trevor to wind down.

“Alright, Daddy’s little Bumble Bee, it’s time for bed.”

Trevor came to a stop so abruptly it scared me to death.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“How-how did you know?”

Huh? “Know what?”

“That was my name.”

“That Trevor was your name?” He lost me and my brain was challenged with keeping up this late in the day.

“No. Little Bumble Bee. How did you know?”

“I’m sorry, but you’ve lost me. Should I not call you that?” What had I missed?

He shook his head. “No, never mind. I like it, especially from you.”

There was a story there, but pushing it might not be wise. Not to mention the fact I was a bit overloaded and more than ready to settle down for the night. More toys would be wise for our next date.

Maybe less sugar, too. Wait, the only sugar he had were juice boxes.

Note to self, replace with sugar free.

“You got Bumble and his new friend all sorted?” He had tucked them into the pillow behind him, then snuggled up to me.

“I do, Daddy. Bumble is so happy with his new friend. He said to tell you thank you.” He fidgeted with the rim of my t-shirt.

“Something wrong?”

“No, but I was um, wondering if I could.” He pointed at my chest. “You know.”

Ah, now he was talking my language. “Nurse?”

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