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“You almost ready? They’ll be here any minute!”
“Be right down!” Nick hollered toward the stairs before grabbing his bookmark off the side table. After placing it between the pages to save his spot, Nick carefully closed the book, running his finger gently across the well-worn cover before setting it down. Peering down at his feet, Nick slid his toes into his favourite navy slippers before placing his hands on the arms of the chair and slowly pushing himself up.
Once Nick was standing, he reached his right hand out and grabbed his cane, wrapping his fingers around the smooth wooden handle before taking a step forward. When Charlie had given it to him for his birthday a few months ago, Nick had insisted it was unnecessary since he only used it for the stairs, and the one the doctor had given him was just fine. Charlie had dismissed him with a shrug. “This one is prettier.”
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Nick set aside the cane and wandered toward the kitchen, where he found Charlie bent over, peering into the oven. “Looking good.”
“It’s not quite done, actually.” Charlie huffed, shutting the oven door and turning around. When their eyes met, the corners of Charlie’s mouth curled up. “Ah, you weren’t talking about the food, were you?”
Nick just smiled, closing the distance between them and placing one hand on Charlie’s hip. Bringing his other hand to his forehead, Nick brushed a stray curl, which time had turned more grey than brown, before gently placing his lips in its place. “Thank you for making dinner.”
“Thank you for making dessert.” Tilting his chin up, Charlie leaned forward, and Nick gladly obliged him with a kiss.
“Of course, although it’s not like I had much of a choice.”
“True. Annabel takes her birthday desserts very seriously.”
Shaking his head, Nick threw his hands up. “When I promised to make her any dessert she wanted for her birthday, I never imagined it would go on quite this long.”
“If only someone had warned you.” Charlie winked before patting Nick on the arm and turning back to the oven to set a timer. “Alright, I think five more minutes, and we’re there. Why don’t you go sit down? I’ve got everything covered.”
“Char, I’m fine, really. You’re making me feel old.”
“I mean, you kind of are an old man.”
“You’ve been calling me that since I was sixteen, though.”
“True. But you do realise Annabel is turning the age you were when she was born, right?”
Nick shook his head in disbelief when the sound of the front door opening caught his attention.
“Papa!”
Nick turned just in time to open his arms to greet the flurry of limbs running toward him, scooping her up in his arms. “Hi, Ellie!”
“Careful with your Papa, sweetheart.” Charlie leaned in to kiss Ellie on the top of her head.
“I’m fine, I promise.”
“Yeah, dad, he’s fine.” Nick turned to see Annabel walking toward them, putting her hands on Charlie's shoulders. “His surgery was months ago, and the doctor said he’s recovering great.”
“I know what she said. I just still think he should be careful.”
Turning to Ellie, Nick shook his head before handing her to Charlie. “Your Baba worries too much.” Charlie took Ellie in his arms, frowning at Nick.
“Not true! You and your daughter worry too little. If Sage was here, they would back me up.”
“I’m sure they would.” Annabel let out a small chuckle as she pulled Nick in for a hug. “They wanted me to tell you again they’re sorry they couldn’t be here. One of their clients had an emergency.”
“Everything ok?”
Annabel nodded with a sad smile. “It will be. Sage says she’s got a great support system.”
Charlie reached over to gently squeeze Nick’s forearm. “Makes all the difference.”
Hearing a chime in the kitchen, Charlie set Ellie down and went to check on the food. Nick watched Ellie run off to the sitting room and reach into the box of toys they kept for her before pulling out a book.
“Papa! Will you read to me?”
“Of course, Ellie!” After sitting down on the sofa, Ellie crawled onto Nick’s lap and handed him the book she had chosen. “Ah, your favourite.”
“You have to do the voice, ok?”
“Always.”
After Nick finished reading, and Ellie's giggles had subsided, she begged him to read another. “Maybe after dinner, alright?”
“Alright.” Ellie reluctantly nodded, before her face lit up once again. “Maybe we can read your favourite book!”
“Well, my favourite is the first one your baba wrote. ” Nick glanced over to where Annabel and Charlie stood in the kitchen, laughing and sipping their glasses of wine. It was hard for him to believe that Annabel couldn’t even walk when Charlie first learned he would be published. Nick could still picture Charlie, barely containing his excitement as he whisper-yelled not to wake Annabel from her nap. “We probably need to wait until you’re a bit older for that one. But someday, I promise.”
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Later that night, Nick crawled into bed next to Charlie, who smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before turning back to the book in his hands. Nick picked up his book from the side table and flipped through the first few pages until he reached the inscription.
For Nick, my love. Yours for evermore.