Dad you're my first love
Ethan left with all those doubts, but he found his way and Ruth, a cheerful young girl with short hair who won him over in no time.
The girls said their first word: "Daddy," much to Deanna's indignation. It was a chain reaction; Audrey was still just a bit smaller than Grace, but she had unstoppable energy, was the most curious, the most active, the most restless.
Just as Deanna had stepped away from the theater to dedicate herself full-time to her home and family, Daniel spaced out his visits to the company, delegating more to Harry and some partners. He spent more time at home, maybe working from his office, as if he didn't want to miss anything. And that day, he was there with both girls in their playpen.
It was easy, it was relaxing, and he loved lifting his eyes from all those spreadsheets to watch them move, listen to their babbling, and sometimes talk to them, even if he got no response. Both listened attentively and waved their hands and feet happily.
"One day you'll say Daddy… Daddy, take me to the park, Daddy, buy me an ice cream, Daddy, I want a doll, and Daddy will go and do all that…" he said, as if imagining.
And then Audrey said it: "Daddy," and Grace followed: "Daddy." Daniel thought he had heard wrong.
"Daddy loves you, Daddy will always take care of you…" he said, waiting.
Again, Audrey took the initiative and Grace imitated her. Now he was sure. He leaned over them, smiling, satisfied, and proud, and repeated:
"Daddy… daddy… daddy…"
The girls got excited and started calling him over and over again. Deanna came in to get them for a bath and saw him there with that look of happiness.
"What happened?" she asked, smiling.
"Listen to this… Daddy, daddy."
And to Deanna's delight and complete indignation, their daughters called out to their father.
"They talked!" she said, surprised.
"Daddy…" Daniel couldn't stop repeating it.
"I can't believe it! Those are their first words!"
"Yes! Daddy…"
"It's not fair!"
"Of course it is, I'm their daddy, right girls? Yes, of course… Daddy."
Daniel was over the moon, talking to them as if they had won a Nobel Prize because he was the target.
"You love me a lot, don't you? Yes, Daddy…" he smiled at them.
Since they were born, her husband had shown a new side. She knew he was a loving and caring father, an attentive and protective father; but as she watched him interact with the twins, that whole father role seemed to have fully emerged.
He got up at night if he heard them cry, changed diapers like an expert, prepared bottles by the dozen, and knew the exact rhythm to rock them. For him, it wasn't just the mother's job, it was teamwork. Just being the provider wasn't enough; he wanted to participate, he wanted to play the same role as Deanna. It was the same with their other children too.
"It's not 'help,' it's my job as a father," he once told Camila. "They're my daughters, and I want to raise them too. Why should I miss out on all that?"
Daniel took full advantage of the opportunity life gave him to stay with his children and share in their growth. Many fathers miss out on a lot of moments because they go to work, maybe for long hours; worried about ensuring they lack nothing, to give them everything they deserve. But like mothers, they also have hopes and fears and often abandon their own goals so their children can achieve theirs; they fight for their children's dreams and sacrifice everything if necessary.
His happy expression, shining eyes, and that huge smile, enjoying being the first to hear them; Deanna looked at him and he was even more handsome like that, if possible.
"No wonder… They have a sexy and very handsome dad; at least they got my good taste," she said, approaching.
Daniel hugged her around the waist, the one that didn’t quite go back no matter how hard she tried.
"You think so?"
"Uh-huh…"
With her hands on her husband's face, Deanna stood on her tiptoes to cover it with small, soft kisses. Amid diapers and cries, they still had that spark that made them burn for each other, and they didn’t hesitate to show what they provoked in one another. He continued to corner her whenever he found her around the house, continued to hug and kiss her with the same desperation, with the same fire. And she continued to melt completely, letting herself be caressed and pampered until the spark ignited the fire.
He captured her mouth, and there, in front of their little ones, they kissed like when they first met and explored their sensations.
"The girls are watching us," he said, resting his forehead against hers, a little breathless.
"They know we love each other…"