Page 121 of Daddy's Pride

“Ooohhh, look at all the shiny stars I got this week, Daddy. I was such a good boy.” His beaming smile lit my world.

“You were a very good boy and Daddy is so proud of you.” I pulled the chest from the spare room and set it on the floor in front of him. “All right, my shiny star, let me get the key to the chest.” Purposely, I bought one with a lock to keep prying eyes and fingers out. But on top of that, I wrapped each present individually so he wouldn’t know what he was picking.

Sneaky Daddy.

“Daddy, why do you call me your shiny star?”

“Well, you like the shiny stars on your chart.”

“Yes?”

“But mostly because before you came into my life, it was dull and gray. Now with you in it, the sunshine you brought made the darkness go away.”

Jamie barreled into me. “Daddy, that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Things such as that he randomly mentioned broke my heart. My boy deserved to be treated like the gift he was. “That’s because you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and that’s one of many reasons why I love you.”

“You-you… You love me?” His eyes welled with tears, and I nearly gave him the entire treasure chest right then and there.

“With all my heart, my shiny star.”

“I love you, too, Daddy, and I love being your shiny star.”

I kissed his forehead and then his lips. “Let’s find a new treat for my shiny boy, shall we?” His head bobbed up and down and he cheered as I unlocked it. “Okay, reach inside and pick a prize.”

His eyes scoured the contents and carefully calculated which would be the one.

“This one.” He plucked it out and held it to his chest.

“Well open it, silly boy.”

Slowly and methodically, he opened it, and I wondered if he’d ever received a wrapped gift before. Well, I’d change that. His birthday was soon, and I’d throw him a party and shower him with gifts.

“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” He clung to the new stuffie. “A panda for my collection. Sloffers, and Kiki, and George will be so excited to have a new friend.”

He reminded me I needed to get his playroom done so we had more room in our bed for us.

“What are you going to name them?”

“Hmm.” He thought long and hard. “I think I’ll name her Patty. Patty Panda.”

“A her, is it?” What he used as determining factors for his stuffies was a mystery to me. “Patty Panda it is, then. Now, our next order of business. Come sit on Daddy’s lap.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“Sweetheart, I don’t think you know how to get into to trouble so no, you aren’t.”

He scrambled up on my lap and got himself and Patty situated.

“I was wondering if you’ve considered giving notice on your apartment or have you already?”

“Oh, you noticed all my stuff was here.”

I chuckled. “Yes, all but your furniture.”

“Are you mad?”

“No, quite the opposite. I love having you here, sneaky boy.”