The Lover Beneath Me(59)

“What does it look like?” I asked her, tugging her toward me.

“It looks like you’ve gone mad with baby fever.” She giggled and brought her hand to my forehead.

“Perhaps,” I muttered and kissed her. Her face beaming as she laughed, it was the perfect sound. The perfect laugh. Addie was happy.

“Don’t forget we’re picking up my father from the airport and bringing him home,” Addie said as she finally figured out how to get out of my arms. She struggled a little but I let her go, letting her think she was stronger.

“I remember,” I said annoyed. She not only slept a lot, but man did she repeat herself all the time. Addie’s memory wasn’t what it used to be. The doctor said it would be fine, but any changes I saw in her I worried, but I didn’t let her know. Addie said I was overbearing…so what? She was my wife, who was carrying my baby. Fuck right I was overprotective.

After hearing the heart beat inside her belly, that soft slow beat, it was musical and it was real. Until that sound, her pregnancy was just a word. The beating heart made our baby truly exist. Fucking right I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong. Rafe thought I was crazy, but no more than usual. Prick. I smiled thinking about how his face lit up. I honestly thought he’d reacted badly, knowing how he was and with commitment, but it was the opposite; he became just as insanely protective, making sure she was all right and that we were taken care of.



“Daddy?” Addie waved as he emerged from the airport.

“Addie,” the old man cried out.

“Man, he looks so different,” I muttered.

“I know right?” Addie breathed. No longer did he look sickly; before us stood a healthy man. He was smiling wildly and was tanned; he even had the same sparkle in his eye as Addie’s. Not too long ago, this family was on the brink of ruin. Each of them carrying this indescribable pain around like a penance, each trying to atone the other. They’d changed. It was incredible to see them. Both of them were happy, content as they found a sense of peace neither of them had before.

He took Addie in a tight hug. My reaction was to stop him, afraid he may hurt her, but she eagerly held at him. So I stopped my knee jerk reaction and stepped back. Once he released her, he turned to me. Holding out my hand, he took it, and pulled me in, hugging me just as tightly.

“How have you been, son?” he asked happily. Fuck me, every time he was around, I couldn’t help but wish my father was like him, loving and caring. I reached out my free hand and hugged him back.

“I’ve been great,” I murmured.

“Good, I'm glad,” he said as he released me.

“Come on, Dad. We’ll take you to dinner and then home.” Addie took his arm and tugged at him.

“Yes, I'm starving. I hate airplane food.” he grimaced.

“You look like you appreciated the Greek cuisine.” I laughed.

“I did.” He chuckled and rubbed his belly.

We entered a quiet restaurant; nothing too over the top. Addie hated it when we went too “Richie” as she called it. It was a new restaurant called Nino which she loved coming to. She mostly loved their homemade pizzas.

“Dad, you’re going to love the pasta here, unless you want pizza?” She sat down across from me so she could be next to her father.

“I want both,” he said, smiling at her.

“Me too,” she laughed.

“Watching you two devour the restaurant should be fun,” I joked.

“May I get you anything?” the waiter asked the moment he approached.

“Yeah, a trough,” I noted.

“Daimon,” Addie scoffed. “Water for now, until we decide what to eat,” she spoke for us.

“Of course.”

“So how was Greece?” Addie asked.

“The family asked about you both, your sister and you. I told them everything. Your aunts want to see you,” her dad said proudly.

“Really?” Addie smiled.

“Yes, really…Addie, I was thinking since you’re now so happy here with Daimon and your sister is doing so well…” her dad hesitated.

“What is it, Dad?”

“I was thinking of moving to Greece permanently and only visiting a few times a year.” He reached for her hand and held it.

“Oh…” Addie breathed. “Okay, I understand.” She smiled but it wasn’t as bright as before. Fuck.

“It’s better for your dad, beloved,” I added, hoping to ease the slight furrows that appeared on her forehead.

“I have a life there, Addie, a good one.”

“That’s great, Dad. I’m happy, really I am. I'm just going to miss you,” she said softly.