“Silly, gerbils can’t fly. But I bet you could teach him to do some tricks.” Ashley commented as she gently stroked the top of the gerbil’s head.
Karen’s stomach continued to turn in knots. She could have sworn she was about to dry heave at the thought of that fat, little gerbil getting out of its cage. She nearly ran screaming from her own home at hearing Dom telling the kids that gerbils thrive better in pairs. She wanted to scream, “Noooooo!” when Kyle suggested he get another gerbil to keep the one he had company.
Noting the pale look on Karen’s face, Dom whispered in her ear, “Baby, what’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”
“Nothing.”
“You sure?”
“Mmm-hmm.” What did he expect her to say? She very well couldn’t tell him to take wild kingdom back to the pet store, now could she? Well, technically she could. After all this was her house. She paid the mortgage and bills every month, so if she said the little creatures had to go…oh, well.
Was she particularly thrilled with two more household additions? Of course not. But Ashley and Kyle were beyond ecstatic over their instant pet ownership. She would sit down and talk with them about their responsibilities of taking care of the critters. One slip up and the bird and rodent were out of there.
No, she wasn’t okay. It was written all over her face as the bird flew from the tree to land on a lamp shade. Maybe he had jumped the gun with buying the pets. He should have asked her permission before giving them to the kids. His intention had not been to overstep any boundaries, but to give in to every child’s dream of having a pet. He didn’t want to disappoint the kids by taking the pets away. If after talking to Karen later, she didn’t want the kids to have the pets, Dom reasoned he could always keep them at his place. That way hopefully the kids wouldn’t be too disappointed.
“We’ll talk later,” he promised as he kissed her temple.
Karen nodded her head. “Okay.”
Chapter 16
Plopping down on the sofa, Karen laid her head back and closed her eyes. Today had been a zoo–literally and figuratively. But it was all good. The kids had gotten what they wanted. To have Dom spend the day with them as if they were a family. Karen smiled. It sure did feel like they were a family. When Gregory was alive, Christmas at his parents’ was pure misery. His family always acted as if she and the children were an intrusion. Karen was grateful the kids were too young to remember. They were used to having fun, festive holidays with their aunt Starr and newly extended family.
Having Dom to themselves had been wonderful. The entire time they trimmed the tree, sat down to the table to eat, and later opened a few gifts, she pretended for that space in time that Dom was her husband and the kids’ father. And even when Dominic and Janet unexpectedly showed up Karen hadn’t mind. In her mind they made the perfect in-laws and grandparents.
Karen was certain the kids felt the same way, too. She had never seen them so happy celebrating the holiday as she had today. If they hadn’t received one gift it would have been okay with them. Having Dom there with them was all the gift they needed or wanted. All she could do was hug her little boy to her bosom just before tucking him in when he smiled up at her saying, “Mommy, I hope Mr. Dom can spend every Christmas with us.” She had to blink back the tears because Ashley had pretty much echoed the same sentiment while she was tucking her in for bed.
Dom’s presence made it painfully clear how much the kids wanted a father. And not just any father, they wanted Dom. But did Dom want them? Karen wasn’t a fool. She overheard the single mothers talking at their children’s sporting events. Heard their stories of meeting men pretending to be interested in their children only to later find out they were only being nice to get them in the bed. And as soon as daylight peeked its rays through the dark sky, they were gone, like the night. For this very reason Karen had avoided dating. She didn’t want some creep using her kids to get to her. But Dom’s no creep. He really loves your children, the tiny voice in her head reminded her.
And he did love Ashley and Kyle. Karen could again feel the tugging in her heart when Ashley opened the tiny jewelry box and pulled out a gold pendent crown and chain that had My Little Princess engraved on it. The look of pure joy on her daughter’s face as she looked at Dom was one of love and adoration from a little girl to her father. When Dom opened his arms Ashley rushed right into his embrace as he hugged her like any father would hug his little girl. Her eyes filled up again remembering Kyle opening his gift box, pulling out a yellow hard hat custom-made to perfectly fit his head. “Aw man, this is the best gift ever!” Shoving the hat on his head, Kyle said “Thanks, Mr. Dom! Now I’m going to look just like you when I grow up and become an engineer!”