by Mina Quin
Camden nodded, a tear trailing down his cheek. “Thank you so much, Wil. I’m so glad I can remember what we’ve had together, and what we will have. She’s the future, and the most important thing.”
Wil shook his head as he shifted his arm around Camden’s waist and laid his head on his shoulder, his other arm still supporting the baby and Camden’s arm. “I happen to think you’re both equally important, my love. Together, we’re a family, and that’s the most important thing.”
Three years later…
“…two, three, four, and five.” Camden finished counting Lacey’s fingers, and their three-year-old counted along with her father. “There you go, Lacey. There’s nothing to it. Once you learn how to count to ten, you can soon count to a bazillion million kajillion.”
She giggled again. “That’s not a real number, Daddy.”
Camden feigned surprise. “It isn’t? I could have sworn it is. I’ll have to ask my tutor about that when Mila comes Tuesday.”
Soon after, the toddler abandoned their impromptu lesson to play with blocks. Wil sat at the table beside Camden, handing him his favorite cup of coffee. “She’s smart as a tack.”
“Just like her papa,” said Camden.
Wil squeezed his hand. “And like her daddy. You’re a gifted man, and I believe some people have called you brilliant. Do you remember the magazine article that declared you a Mental Giant in the Tech field?”
He grimaced slightly. “Yeah, years ago, but I barely have the skills above a preschooler these days. It’s pathetic that I’m teaching my daughter how to count to five when I barely learned how to count to a hundred just a few months ago.”
“Relearned,” Wil reminded him gently. “You knew all these things before, and you’ll get them back.”
Camden frowned. “What if I don’t, Wil? I’ll never run my company again, and I won’t be able to help her with homework or anything else.”
Wil shrugged. “Your friend Blaise is doing an excellent job running the company, so we have no concerns there. We have plenty of money in the bank, so we can always hire a tutor for her if she needs academic help. You’ll probably be finished with Mila’s services by then, so she’ll need a job anyway.” He grinned slightly.
Camden gave him a brief smile. “I guess you’re right. None of that really matters as long as we have each other.”
Wil nodded, swallowing the lump of moisture in his throat. “Do you think there’s room for one more?”
Camden arched a brow, his eyes darkening slightly. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I mean you’re going to be a daddy in about eight months. A daddy again, I should say. How does that sound?”
Camden’s gaze softened, and he squeezed Wil’s hand before bringing it to his mouth to kiss the palm. “That sounds amazingly fantastic, Mr. Norris-Marsh. And this time, I’ll be able to see him or her right from the start. I hated not being able to see Lacey the first few months until my vision came back. I missed so much.”
Wil nodded. “I know, and all the pictures and videos in the world aren’t the same.” To tease Camden out of his solemn thoughts, he said, “And this time, since you can get around just fine on your own, you get most of the diaper duty.”
Camden grimaced. “Do you think we should get a nanny? I’m a billionaire, after all. Diapers are beneath me.” He winked.
Wil burst out laughing. “Most certainly not. It won’t kill you to change diapers. The baby won’t know or care if you’re a billionaire as long as he gets a clean butt.”
“You’re a hard man, Wil.” He feigned a morose expression that Wil saw right through—mainly because Camden was on the edge of grinning, an occurrence that happened more frequently these days in spite of his challenges. “I guess a few diapers won’t kill me.”
Wil burst out laughing. “A few? Honey, wait until you see what a newborn produces. It’s like a poop factory.”
At his look of horror, this time not all faked, Wil couldn’t help chuckling again as he scooted his chair closer to kiss him. Life was perfect, and so was Camden, just the way he was.
******
