Page 62 of Tinley's Daddy
She nodded, but she wanted to say more. She didn’t. She pushed me off and crawled out of bed.
“I have to use the bathroom.”
I nodded and she scurried off to the bathroom.
When she came back out, she smiled and hugged me, then crawled into bed under the covers on her side and closed her eyes.
I lay down next to her, not able to fall asleep.
My mind raced. I dimmed the fire she had worked so hard to let burn, and I hated myself for it. I knew I wanted Tinley. I wanted her to be my little girl. I didn’t feel I had the right to demand it from her. To decide the rest of her life for her when she had no control over the last two years. In actions, wecommunicated how we felt about each other, but we hadn’t had the discussion.
We had plenty of time to figure it out.
That was what I told myself, but it didn’t make me feel better.
“Joshie.”Tinley’s melodic voice woke me from a strange dream. She squeezed my arm, and I realized it was wrapped around her waist. She turned in my arms to face me and leaned in to place a quick kiss on my cheek. “Wake up.”
I grunted and pulled her closer and shifted to my side. I laid a loud, wet kiss on her neck. She giggled. It made my heart full. I settled back in the bed.
“Joshie, come on. Wake up.”
“No.” I ran my hand up and down her back. “It’s too early.”
“We have to go to the city.” She whined and pulled away. I grabbed her arm and rolled her back to fall into my arms. “Rayna is waiting for us.”
“She’s waiting for you?” I laughed and snuggled next to Tinley. She lay still in my arms for as long as she could stand before she popped up.
“We have to get ready. We don’t want to be late.” Tinley crawled to the edge of the bed and looked back at me.
“Okay. I’m up.”
She jumped out of bed. I lay back down and closed my eyes. I listened to her run across the hall and then back.
“I’m up.” I sat up and pushed the covers off.
She grinned and disappeared again. I got dressed and went to the kitchen. Tinley had pulled bowls and a box of Cheerios out of the pantry and arranged them on the table. Her head was buried in the refrigerator.
“You made me breakfast.”
She yelped.
“You scared me.” She grabbed the milk and sat down at the table. I headed for the coffee machine. A hot cup waited for me. I took a sip and it was perfect.
“Come eat?” She waved me toward the table.
“We don’t have to be there at a certain time,” I reminded her.
“I know, but we might hit traffic.” She poured herself some cereal and pushed the box over to me.
“You are going to have a proper meal before the day is over.”
She grinned in my direction while shoving a spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
I poured myself some and managed two bites before Tinley grabbed for it to clear the table.
“Tinley.”
She stopped.
