Page 33 of A Daddy of the Heart
He leaned in. “And what’s that, bud?”
“I want the biggest Lincoln Log set made so there are enough logs for us to all build houses! It has to have at least…a hundred logs.”
Willem chuckled but dutifully wrote down the gift, remembering an argument that broke out earlier this week between the kids when they’d run out of logs while trying to build the ‘bestest’ cabin. Then he thought for a moment, happiness spreading inside of him as he wrote down his wish.
“Okay, now that we’ve written down our lists, we need to write thank you at the bottom with our names.” He wrote the thank you’s, then handed Jeremy the pencil. “Make your mark, little man.”
Jeremy smiled and scribbled something on the bottom of his list before handing the pencil back.
Across the kitchen, the timer went off on the oven, announcing that their supper of roast, potatoes and carrots was nearly done. All that was left to do was throw in the biscuits.
“Why don’t you kids go get washed up for dinner?” Eli stood to shut off the timer on the oven. “When you get back you can help Daddy Willem put the lists on the tree, while the biscuits cook.”
Both kids scrambled out of the room. Eli started to gather up the lists when Willem placed a hand on his arm.
“Do I get to see what my boy asked Santa for?”
Eli shrugged. “Christmas is about the kids, Daddy. I’ll be happy with whatever you decide to get me.” He started folding up Raelynn’s list. “I love your family’s tradition, Will. It’s so much better than the ’give me the list for your presents‘ my folks did.”
Willem stood as Eli folded Jeremy’s list, before folding his own. “Our family, boy.” He pulled Eli into his arms as his man reached for Willem’s list. “It’s our family, remember? Just like you’re mine, and I’m yours.” He cupped Eli’s face and brought his boy’s head down. “I miss my Little, Eli. I know you want to be the best parent for Raelynn and Jeremy, but don’t forget that Daddy needs him as well as adult Eli. That it’s okay to be a Little as well as my partner.”
Eli nodded, his head tipped down. “I know. I’ll try harder, Daddy. It’s hard though. I don’t want my family to have any ammunition against us.”
“They won’t, sweetheart. What goes on in our bedroom and playroom will never affect the kids. We love them and want to provide the best environment for them – a judge would agree if it ever came to that.” Willem sighed. “I hope it never comes to that, but if it does, we’ll handle it, but not if my boy is coming apart at the seams because he’s neglecting his Little side. You just need to give yourself permission to let him out and trust Daddy to take care of everything else.”
The sound of running footsteps preceded Raelynn and Jeremy’s reappearance into the kitchen, completely severing their conversation. “We’re ready to put the lists on the tree, Daddy Will!”
“I see that.” Willem turned to face them. “Are you sure that water even touched your skin?”
“Yes!” they said in unison.
Behind him, he heard the sound of folding paper before his boy handed over all four lists, neatly folded into sharp little rectangles.
“Go…” Eli shooed. “I need to pop the biscuits into the oven or we’ll be eating at bedtime, Daddy Will.”
“Only if you remember to let me and the kids set the table. Right, kids?” He arched his brow at them. Over the past week, Eli had been doing everything in the kitchen, including setting the table. It was as if his boy was stuck in June Cleaver mode.
“I’ll set the plates, Uncle Eli,” Raelynn promised.
“And I’ll do the silverware,” Jeremy piped up.
“Which leaves me doing the glassware and lifting the heavy pans.” He gave Eli a look. “I mean it, boy. I catch you trying to lift that roast out of the oven…”
Eli rolled his eyes, and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I know, upstairs has no witnesses, Daddy.”
“That’s right.” Willem groused, before allowing himself to be led out of the room by Raelynn and Jeremy. He could only hope that he’d gotten through to Elias. He needed Little Eli as much as he did big Eli.
