Page 49 of Surprise Baby for Mr. Fischer
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Lincoln
After breakfast, weheaded out to the garage that housed all the old items for Harper to look through. I glanced up wondering if snow was soon on its way. The chill in the air hadn’t dissipated as the afternoon sun struggled to peak out from the mass of gray clouds filling the December sky.
When we entered the garage Harper gave this happy little gasp of pleasure. Hearing it made me smile. For a while back in the house I sensed her mentally pulling away from me. Was she having second thoughts about whether I’d be a good father after she learned about my childhood? I was desperately trying to prove my worth and to move past my childhood trauma, but she must be second-guessing me, and she had every reason to.
Harper ran her fingers over the shelves lining the walls that held various antiques, but thepièce de résistancewas the large pile in the middle. According to Tai, the grandsons mentioned that their grandmother had left everything in its current state after their grandfather had passed away. He’d been the true collector.
It soon became apparent that Harper struggled to move and climb around the pile with my baggy clothes on. I imagined what she probably looked like at picker sites when she was dressed in more appropriate clothing. Not wanting to endanger her or the baby, I volunteered myself to do the searching.
It wasn’t easy to find a place to put my feet while climbing the pile, and she was too impatient to wait for me to move everything. Her reassurances that some of the boxes would hold my weight left me a little skeptical, but I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to ruin the obvious fun she was having.
“Lincoln, move those boxes a little to the left. Okay, now grab what’s underneath. I want to see what that sign says.”
She had no problem telling me which way to go and how to do it. I loved seeing this side of her.
“Let me see the box to the right of your hand. It's blue.”
I reached to my left when I clearly heard her say right and smiled to myself. I palmed a small navy blue box and waved it in her direction. She hadn't realized I was messing with her yet. Whenever I wouldn’t do exactly as she'd asked, a cute little frown would appear. I loved learning all her little ticks.
. “No—your other right," she grumbled.
“Oh, you meant this one." Now I grabbed the correct box and gave her a triumphant grin.
Harper’s gaze stayed steady on mine as she barely looked at my find. Her eyes widened slightly, and she grinned. "I changed my mind. Can you climb further up the pile?”
I pointed a few feet away. “There?”
She hummed her agreement and gave me the side eye. “Yes, I can't see the whole thing, but I'm sure it's the one.”
I tried to climb over things, but without moving everything, it was impossible. My foot got stuck, and I stumbled. Working to keep my balance, I pointed to a box. “This one?"
“Hmm, no I don't think so. A little higher and to your left.” She gave me an innocent look as I stared back at her. I was pretty sure I'd grabbed the box she'd originally indicated.
Carefully, I picked my way through the pile, stepping only when I didn't think I'd shatter anything below me. I almost fell on my ass a few times. Harper at least had the decency to hide her snicker behind a fake cough.
I loved that she felt comfortable enough to fuck with me.
I picked up a tiny, colorful box and held it victoriously above my head. Her eyes lit up, and that excitement made all the aches and bruises worth the hassle.
I slid down the pile to reach her and gently laid the box in her hand. Her returning smile was glorious, and the small kiss she laid on my cheek had my chest puff out in pride.
