Chapter eight-six: Her First Word

Chapter eight-six: Her First Word

Jeffrey

After Jessica left, I felt like a piece of our puzzle was missing. She was right, I have the children to keep me company but they couldn't hold a conversation, all they did was babble.

Jessica and I had this competition about what their first word could be, Daddy or Mummy. Dylan was close to saying mummy but his words mostly just consisted of a continuous mixture of Ma and Pa.

They loved hearing me sing which was crazy because I never sang that much anymore but ever since these children arrived, I found myself doing it more often.

I had just finished bottle feeding them, burping them both before going back upstairs to lay them down for their afternoon nap. Jessica and I had tried multiple times to have the children some play time after they are nursed and then have them sleep. But they are far too grumpy and tired after I had fed them to play so I have to settle for sleep and play when they wake up.

I laid Dylan down, kissing his forehead and then Delanie muttered a small 'Da' as I laid her down in her crib, I smiled at her.

"Daddy? Can you say daddy, dear?"

It felt so strange, hearing this girl talk come out of my mouth, using terms that I would only say to Jessica. But hearing my daughter nearly say her first word made those memories brush aside.

"Come on, Delanie. Say Daddy." I cooed, tickling her tummy.

"Da…ddy." I said.

"Da…da." She giggled and I knew I was grinning like a fool.

"Daddy," I repeated, slowly.

"Say Daddy, Delanie."

"Da…dad." She said again and let out a small sigh through my nose.

"Dee," my eyes widened and I felt like I was a tad over excited.

"Say, daddy, Delanie. Come on, say Daddy."

"Daa…Dee." She giggled again and I felt I could cry.

"Good job, darling." I smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

I left the room to call Jessica and tell her the good news and possibly rub it in her face that Delanie said her first word and it was daddy.

"Hi, love." She greeted as she picked up on the third ring.

"How are the children?"

"They are good, we all are missing you so much. How is Katagum?"

"It is beautiful, very busy though. We visited that cookie dough place downtown and it was absolutely amazing. I think you would like it Mr Rice Cake" She giggled and I rolled my eyes at that ridiculous nickname.

"I am sure it was delicious. I do have something to tell you."

"And what is that?" I smirked.

"Delanie just said her first word!" I heard her gasping.

"And you didn't record it? What did she say?"

"She said, Daddy."

"You are kidding, right?"

"No, she just said Daddy. I won, it looks like you own me."

"Owe you?" She chuckled.

"We didn't make a bet, besides you are getting your surprise when I get back tomorrow, that is it."

"Okay," I could hear Angelie in the background, making me chuckle.

"I don't need to hear about what you two do in your spare time. Thanks but no thanks."

"Not even a little something on the side?" I pushed but she wasn't budging.

"No, Jeffrey. I have got to go, we were on our way to the dress fitting. I will talk to you later, okay?"

"Sure, my love. Have fun."

"I will, I love you."

"I love you more."

She hung up and I sat myself down on the couch, eagerly awaiting her next phone call. I knew she would be pissed off once she found out but did she really expect me to let her go dress shopping and not buy a dress for her? Surely, she knows one better than that.

I spent the next few minutes working on wedding preparations, ordering the flowers that Jessica wanted for her bouquet and making sure my appointment with Louis Vuitton for my final suit fitting was still scheduled for the following week.

Our wedding date isn't too far away now and I think I was starting to get more angst than she was. The venue has been booked and we had the guest invites sent out, our honeymoon is still on the table. We just agreed on somewhere to visit but we also need someone to babysit the children and I think she was a little more afraid to leave the kids alone with a sitter for more than a few days. I am still surprised she trusted me with them for a night.

My phone buzzed as I was looking up the best vacation sites for my honeymoon. I looked down to see her name flash across the screen. I grinned and picked it up, answering with confidence.

"Hello, Princess?"

"You are such an asshole, Jeffrey." I could hear the teasing in her tone.

"Why the hell did you pay for my dress and my bridesmaid dresses?"

"Did you really think I was going to let you buy your own dress? Come on, Princess, you should know me better than that."

"Looks like you won't be getting your surprise then." My smile dropped.

"Okay, slow your roll there. Why don't we talk it out? Maybe some good, old fashioned sex to make up for it." I said, hoping to at least get a little something when she comes back home.

"Don't push it, Jeffrey." I sucked my bottom lips between my teeth.

She hung up and I could tell that she was a little bit upset but I am going to pacify her when she returns.

**********

"Welcome home, my love." I said as she walked through the front door.

Her suitcase in one hand and her dress slung over her opposite shoulder. I had both Dylan and Delanie in my arms and they instantly smiled upon seeing their mother. Of course, I did too.

"Wow," she smiled, tilting her head as she set her bag down, laying her dress on top of it and walking over to us.

"I miss you guys." She pecked my lips and then kissed the twins' cheeks too.

"I tried blowing raspberries on their tummies this morning but I can't do it the way you can." I sheepishly said.

She giggled and reached for Dylan, taking him from my arms.

"Okay, Dylan. I need you to say Mummy because apparently your sister knows how to say daddy so you are falling behind."

I chuckled and looked at Delanie who had her finger in her mouth before she looked at me and smiled.

"Daddy," Delanie babble and Jessica's eyes snapped over to our daughter.

"Did she just say…..?"

"Oh yes." I nodded with a cocky grin.

"I will say though, I did try to get her to say Mummy now but she is only saying Daddy." She rolled her eyes playfully and looked at Dylan.

"You will say Mummy, won't you?" He simply looked at her and gurgled.

"Ma…ma." She smiled and turned back to me.

"I will take it, it is good enough for me."

"But that doesn't count." I chuckled.

"We aren't keeping score. Now come on, it is late and they need to go to bed."

We put the children down for the night, or at least, a couple of hours before they woke up again in the middle of the night. I carried her dress and bag to our bedroom and hung it in the closet.

"I ordered your flowers today by the way." She was packing her hair into a ponytail.

"Thanks, love." She said, kissing my cheek and then smirked.

"I am going to change now, I will be back in a bit." I nodded but furrowed my eyebrows a little as she went into the closet.

She never really wore actual pajamas to bed with me anymore and she always changed her clothes in front of me without any insecurity. I walked over to the bedside table and dropped my rings in the jewelry box as well as my necklace.

When I turned around, Jessica was standing leaning against the closet door frame, dressed in the tiniest police officer's outfits and swinging handcuffs around her index finger.

"Close your mouth, you will catch flies." She chuckled.

I instantly pressed my lips together, not even realizing that my jaw had dropped.

"Put your hands forward where I can see them." She said to me.

I tried to hide my foolish smile as I held my hands innocently in front of me and before I could even think about touching her, she brought my hands behind my back and handcuffed them together.

"Up against the wall, sir."

I smirked as she pushed me up against the wall in front of me and then placed her hands on my shoulders, gliding down my arms and then moving to my torso. I glanced over my shoulder to catch another glimpse of but she caught me.

"Hey, eyes on the wall."

I turned my head back, biting my lip as she began patting down my legs going dangerously slow with my thighs. She turned me around and I leaned forward to kiss her but she placed her index finger on my lips, shaking her head.

She smiled as she began patting down my chest, my stomach and then knelt down, grabbing the belt of my jeans in her hands.