The doorbell rings, and I rush to answer it, not wanting to disturb James, who’s in the backyard of our rental property ‘taking care of our future’ as he worded it.
“Hi. Is James here?” a well-dressed man in a suit carrying a small bag asks.
“D-…he’s out back,” I reply. “Let me get him for you.”
I rush to the back and let James know someone is here to see him. Putting down his coffee his eyes narrow on me.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
His brow creases. “You opened the door for someone or you see them through the peephole?”
“I opened the door.”
He pats his lap twice and slowly I move toward him, knowing I’ve done a bad thing when I was only trying to help.
Sitting on his lap he strokes my hair once before he begins. “You know you’re not to talk to strangers right, and especially not open the door for them.”
“I know, Daddy, but I knew you were busy and—“
“Little one, it’s for your safety. If someone grabbed you and ran off there’d be no way of tracking you. And you know how tore up inside that would make Daddy.”
“I know, but I’m worried about the credit card situation and—“
His fingers come to my lips, silencing me. “You don’t ever need to worry about anything. That’s Daddy’s job, not yours.”
“Ok. I’m sorry. I’m just not making good decisions today.”
“Hey,” he says, pulling me in for a hug. “I get it. The Disney movie marathon last night tired you out. You probably need a nap, don’t you?”
I nod.
“Ok, but first you have to learn your lesson. Go into the bedroom and face the wall for five minutes.”
“Are you putting me on time out, Daddy?”
“It’s for your own good, sweetheart. You have to follow the rules. Big rules like not opening the door for strangers are just as important as small rules like brushing your teeth every morning and night.”
“Okay, Daddy. I’m sorry.”
He picks me up and pats me on the backside as he sends me on my way. I pause, turning back to him as he prepared to leave the backyard and go to the door.
“Daddy, I almost referred to you as Daddy to the man at the door. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to call you around other people though.”
“You call me whatever you want. You’re not other people. Other people can never be as important as you. You’re important. You’re everything.”
“I…I just don’t want to embarrass you, especially around adults who are well-dressed and look serious.”
He motions with his four fingers to come back toward him, and I do exactly that. “Little Josi,” he begins, cupping my face with his hands. “You could never embarrass me. You’re my everything and I love you and I love being your Daddy. You can call me James, Daddy, Papi Chulo, heck Papa Smurf for all I care. If it makes you happy I’ll answer to it.”
I nearly break out in tears, counting my lucky stars for having found such an incredible man. He understands me and he gets me. And although he might be putting me in time out right now, we both know it’s for my own good. And we both know we’ll both enjoy the way it makes us feel, and how it serves the dynamic of our relationship.
“I love you too, Daddy,” I say softly, rising up on my tiptoes as he leans in to meet me, and our lips melt into one.
A few seconds later I’ve got my nose in the corner of the bedroom where two walls come together and I can hear Daddy’s deep voice as he speaks with the man in the suit.
“It’s perfect,” he says. “I’ll take care of the arrangements tomorrow once the ink dries.”
“Glad you like it,” he says. “I’m sure you’re going to make someone very happy with it.”