Page 162 of The One I Hate
It also gave me an excuse to throw a party.
“I don’t know if you know how much you’re loved already. See this nursery?” I hold her up like she can see what I’m talking about. “Your aunties and uncles got it all ready for you. Daddy didn’t even hire anyone, which you’ll know soon enough, is a very big deal.”
In my mind, my daughter is laughing. In reality, I think she just pooped.
“Now, you might get confused, because everyone is your aunt or uncle. And you’re going to be told that to be an aunt or an uncle, you have to be related to them, but I’m here to tell you that’s not true. Your family isn’t just by blood. Or marriage. It’s the people who love you. Who will have your back whenever you need them. Who will go along with your crazy daddy’s ideas andthrow you a huge name-reveal party. Also, if your Uncle Shane ever tells bad stories about me, he’s a liar. Don’t believe him.”
Another in-my-mind giggle. Yup. She’s pooping.
“And they all love you very much. But do you know who loves you the most in the world? That’s me and your mommy. And we can’t wait to see you become the best parts of both of us.”
I walk over to the changing table. The second I take off her onesie, I’m hit with a smell that’s equally foul and impressive.
“I hope you are focused like your mama. Have her determination and drive. I hope you have my willingness to take some risks. Not big ones. At least not yet. But don’t be afraid to go for it. You’re a Banks. You can do anything you want.”
I toss the diaper into the trash and grab a new one, thankful she didn’t spring a pee leak between diapers.
“One day you’re going to do the math and realize that you came into this world before we got married. When that happens, I want you to ask your mommy why she hated Daddy. She’ll get mad at me, and that’s okay. I like to push her buttons. Secretly, she loves it too. But no matter when you came to us, you’re forever going to be the best thing we’ve done.”
I finish changing her diaper—I’m a fucking ninja at this—when I notice Charlie leaning in the doorway of the nursery.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.” She smiles and walks toward us, and I swear she’s glowing more now than she was when she was pregnant. She has on a long floral dress that softly hugs her curves. Her hair is down and curled, and her red lipstick is making me think things that I can’t be thinking. Well, I can. I just can’t act on them for another five weeks.
Not that I have an alarm set in my phone or anything.
“Everything I said was true,” I say. “She’s the best thing we could have ever done.”
“I agree,” she says as she grabs the outfit we have picked out for Baby Reveal Day. “We made a pretty fucking cute baby.”
“Yeah we did.”
We tag team getting her dressed—an adorable floral dress that matches Charlie. She’ll probably only fit into it once, but that’s fine. We accessorize it with a bow that’s twice the size of her head. I found a similar floral shirt, because of course my family has to match on such a special occasion.
I pick the baby up, but not before stealing a kiss from Charlie. “You ready, Mama?”
She gently rubs the baby’s back and flashes me a smile that I hope never stops knocking me on my ass. “Let’s go, Daddy.”
“Is that the music fromThe Lion King?”
“Is Simon about to fucking Simba his kid?”
“Damn right I am!” I yell as Charlie and I slowly walk out to our back yard where all of our friends and family are gathered. The low tone of the music is starting to build and all eyes are on us.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Charlie mumbles as she walks next to me and the baby.
“Just wait until her first birthday party. I think I want the theme to be One-Derland. Whole Alice and Wonderland theme. It will be epic.”
“Let’s get through this day first, okay?”
I hear the music building, and I know it’s about time. And on cue, just as I practiced all week, I hoist my daughter into the air, a round of applause following from all that have gathered.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages…”
“Isn’t that an old wrestling entrance?” Oliver asks.
“Yes, Oliver. But it works,” I reposition the baby back into my hold. “We like to thank you for coming out today and giving Charlie and I some space this week as we got in our groove.”
