Trust in Me - Quinn Ward Page 0,34

enough to realize how childlike he was.

“This is sooooo good,” he mumbled around a mouthful of noodles.

“Do good boys talk with full mouths?” I scolded him.

Sammy swallowed hard. “Sorry, Daddy. I kept thinking it but didn’t want to forget to say it, but then I kept eating.”

I reached over and scruffed his hair. “It’s okay. I know you’ll try to do better next time.”

The sun was still just above the horizon by the time we finished eating. Too early for a grown man’s bedtime, but perfect for my boy. Besides, bath time, story time, and snuggles would certainly take a while. I wasn’t going to rush anything with him.

I got up from the table long enough to clear our plates and grab a washcloth. As I’d anticipated, Sammy was a disaster. Somehow, he’d even managed to get sauce behind his ear. When I wiped it away, he giggled and ducked away from me. “Daddy, that tickles!”

“Oh, is my baby boy ticklish?” I set down the rag and started tickling his belly and sides. His protests didn’t hold much weight through his laughter. “Yeah, I’m going to have to remember this in case you try sleeping in when you’re supposed to be awake.”

“I won’t, I promise,” he squealed. Hearing his voice echo off the high ceilings sent warmth through my body. I’d often felt like there was something missing to make this house a home, and now I knew that his absence is what I’d felt. He hopped off his chair and slipped his hand into mine. “Can we go do bath time now? I want to play with my squirty fish!”

He tugged the through the house, coming to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the stairs. When he turned around, his smile had fallen into a frown. “What’s wrong, Sammy?”

“I don’t know where I’m going. I forgot I’ve never been here before.” He seemed embarrassed by that admission, but I loved it. He’d proven that, even though this was his first time in my house, he felt comfortable with me. That was a better outcome than I could have imagined when I’d invited him over here.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Eventually, you’re going to know every inch of this house and I’ll be hollering at you to quit running,” I teased. When Sammy was excited, it was impossible to slow him down. There was no doubt in my mind, I’d eventually be able to scold him for rushing. “We’re going up to my room. The master bath has a huge tub I think you’re going to love.”

It was another of those little details I hadn’t fully paid attention to when I’d originally built the house. I was busy trying to settle into my new job, so I’d deferred on a lot of the decision making. Now, I wondered how much my sister-in-law knew about my lifestyle because there were all these little accents that seemed too perfect to be coincidence.

I flipped on the ambient lighting, skipping the bright overhead lights. Sammy gaped at the freestanding tub nestled under a huge window. I followed as he stepped closer, leaning around him to start warming the water. “It’s like a swimming pool!”

It wasn’t that big, but it definitely put standard tubs to shame. I’d never completely filled it because that seemed like a waste of water. The upside was I could put enough water in that he’d be able to dunk himself and still have room for lots of bubbles. He clapped his hands when I poured the bubble soap into the water. “Come on, silly boy, let’s get you undressed. Do you have to go potty before you get in the tub?”

As if he’d just realized his bladder was full, he crossed his legs and started wiggling around. I took his hand and led him to the toilet.

“What are you doing?” he asked as I crouched down to take off his pants and undies. Immediately, he covered himself.

Oh. Right.

We’d been having such a good time, I hadn’t given our differences a second thought. Now, I had to reassure him I wasn’t turned off by them. I placed my hands on his shoulders after tossing his pants toward the hamper.

“I want you to look at me when I say this, baby.” He slowly lifted his gaze, full bottom lip firmly planted between his teeth. “I’d like to be able to take care of you and help you, but I will completely understand if this is something you need to keep private for now.”

“But