Page 26 of A Daddy of the Heart
Making his way up to their room, he paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door. Willem was sitting on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumped, with his elbows planted on his knees, his head in his hands. The very image of dejection if Eli had ever seen one. Empathy nudged at his own anger and hurt. His Daddy might seem caring, fearless, and strong, but he was still all too human. He’d had a rough couple of days. So that meant Eli needed to strive for patience.
“Daddy?” He entered the room.
“I fucked up, didn’t I?” Willem lifted his head. “Derek told me to listen to you. So, tell me what I did wrong.”
Eli sighed, all vestiges of anger fleeing. “Damn, you know how to take the wind right out of my sails, Daddy.” He sat down next to Willem. “You know I’m a grown man, right?”
Willem nodded warily. “Of course. I wouldn’t do what I do with you if you weren’t.”
Eli lifted his hand to place it on Willem’s thigh. “Which means that you can’t hide important things from me about your health. I may be your Little - but I’m also your man. Don’t keep me in the dark. I know you think you’re protecting me, but in the end that protection will hurt me when, or if, something bad happens.”
“I…” Willem looked over at him. “…wasn’t trying to keep you in the dark. I just wanted to keep you safe. I would’ve told you everything when I got home.”
Eli nodded. “I’m sure you would’ve.” He took Willem’s hand in his. “But the way you treated me on the phone…” he closed his eyes. “You treated me like a Little when I was clearly in adult space. When it comes to your health, I’m always going to be big Eli. I don’t want to be sheltered. That’s an accident waiting to happen.”
Willem swallowed hard. “Got it. My last Little wanted me to take care of all things big, and that included my health issues. I mean he understood what to do, just like you do. I taught him about the emergency kit, and how to check my sugars if I was unable to, but we never had an issue and…” he looked imploringly into Eli’s eyes. “…please forgive an old man that didn’t think before he spoke this morning?”
“Already done.” Eli leaned his head on Willem’s shoulder. “I love you, Daddy, and yesterday scared me, but we got through it.”
Willem pivoted a bit on the bed, and tugged on Eli, obviously wanting closer. “Come snuggle with me? I’m wiped, boy.”
“Of course.” Eli stood, then pulled down the covers, revealing the rumpled sheets. He’d never be able to make the bed as neatly as Daddy.
“Thanks.” Willem kicked off his shoes, his hands tugging the shirt over his head. As he tossed away the shirt, Eli’s attention was snagged by his bare chest. Covered in a silvery mat of soft fur, it was Eli’s favorite place to rest his head.
After his daddy stood to kick free of the mud splattered jeans, Eli picked up his clothing and tossed them into the laundry chute. When he turned back, Willem was pulling the covers up to his chest, yawning tiredly. “So tired, boy.”
“I imagine so.” Eli crawled up on top of the covers, then snuggled up to Willem’s side. “You need a few hours of rest. Did you eat before you left the hospital?”
Willem nodded. “Yeah. Oatmeal, hard boiled eggs, bacon and sausage.”
“Then you’ll be good for a while.” Eli pressed a kiss to Willem’s shoulder. “Sleep, Daddy. I’ll lie with you until you doze off.”
“That’s my boy.” Willem wrapped an arm across Eli, tugging him closer. “God, I love you.”
“Love you too, Daddy.” Eli let his head drop back down and relaxed against Willem’s side. The fight hadn’t turned into a fight at all, he realized. His Daddy had listened, and that had made all the difference in the world.
* * *
It seemed like only minutes had passed since he’d dozed off, but when Willem came awake nearly two hours later, he felt like he’d slept for ten. That’s when the voices and heavy presences at the side of the bed reached him.
“Shhh, Unca said not to wake him up,” Jeremy whispered to his sister loudly.
“But he’s been sleeping forever…” Raelynn actually stamped her foot. “…and Eli’s on the phone with someone and I’m hungry now. It’s almost lunch time and I want Daddy Will to come downstairs.”
Willem wanted to groan, but he wasn’t sure if it was in irritation or a need to gather their adorable kids up in his arms.
“You’re always thinking with your tummy, Sissy,” Jeremy hissed. “Maybe Daddy Will is sick, and this time we should make him lunch.”
There was a pause as Raelynn considered his words. “That’s a good idea, Jer. We totally should make Daddy Will lunch in bed – kinda like the breakfast in bed we made for Uncle Eli, but only lunch instead.”
Willem’s eyes flew open as what she was agreeing to sank in. The last time the kids had decided to surprise them with food, he’d ended up cleaning pancake batter off the ceiling. “How ‘bout we let Uncle Eli make lunch, kiddos?” He pushed himself up on one shaking arm. Definitely needed some food. “Why don’t you go downstairs and ask him…”
“Ask me what?” Eli appeared in the doorway of the room, his arms crossed over his chest. “I thought I told you kiddos to let Daddy Will sleep?”
“But…” Raelynn’s little lip trembled. “We miss him and you were on the phone and…”
“….and I told you that once I got off my conference call, we’d make some lunch and then wake up Daddy Will. Right?”
