Garrr!" He splashed water again, smiling hard when my face was filled with water. I didn't bother drying myself. Jaimie always manages to bathe me whenever I'm bathing him. I smiled, staring at him.
As I dressed Jaimie in his diapers and clothes, I whispered to him softly, "We'll get through this, my love. It's only temporary. God has a special plan for us, and we have each other." He smiled at me, cooing and gurgling in response.
Leaving him to sleep, I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Breaking the eggs into the frypan, I couldn't help but smile as I thought of Tanner's kiss. It had left me feeling breathless and alive. It made me want more.
TANNER
Lately, I've been contemplating about getting Jaimie a baby stroller. I noticed how Jasamina's arms would strain and clutch on him whenever she carries him. Jaimie is growing so fast, and he is no longer the tiny baby that he once was.
When Dannie was born, he already had his own stroller waiting for him. The stroller was one of the first baby things we bought, and it was a beautiful sight to behold. It had a comfortable cushion, a secure harness, and a sunshade to protect him from the glaring sunlight.
As I watched Jasamina carry Jaimie around the house, I couldn't help but think that it's time for him to have his own stroller. Jasamina is an amazing mother, but it's not easy carrying a growing baby around all day. I wanted to take some of the load off her, even if it's just a little.
While Jasamina was cooking in the kitchen, I decided to take the initiative and went to the nearest mall to look for a stroller. As I entered the mall, I saw a directory that read "BABIES," and I knew that was where I was headed.
As I walked towards the baby section, I was greeted by a friendly worker who smiled at me and asked, "Are you looking for things to buy for your baby?"
My baby? Warmth and pain filled my heart at the same time. "Something like that. A baby stroller."
The woman was excited and replied, "Wow! We have the best ones on sale. Please follow me, and I'll lead you right there."
As we walked, I tried my best not to think of the kiss that happened between Jasamina and me earlier in the day. It was unexpected, and it had awakened feelings in me that I thought had died with my wife. But I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.
The woman stopped in front of a section that was filled with different types of baby strollers. They were all beautiful and well-designed. I focused on trying to choose one that was suitable for Jaimie. I scanned the options and finally found one that caught my eye.
It was the most expensive one, but it was worth it. It had all the features that I was looking for, and I knew that Jasamina and Jaimie would love it. I picked it up and turned to go and pay for it, but on the way to the counter, other beautiful baby stuffs caught my attention.
I couldn't resist, and I started picking out some baby clothes, socks, diapers, formula, baby cereal, shoes, baby coveralls for cold seasons, and a lot of toys. I wanted to make sure that Jaimie had everything he needed, even as he grows older.
I picked out a variety of things so that Jaimie would have a lot of options to choose from. I knew that he would love the colorful toys, and the soft and warm baby clothes would keep him comfortable and cozy during the cold seasons.
After I had picked everything I needed, I carried them to the reception-counter to pay. The cashier seemed surprised as she looked from me to everything I had bought. I could tell she was probably wondering how I was able to afford all these things, considering how scruffy and unkempt I looked.
When I hit the streets two years ago, I had a secret stash of cash that only Suzy knew about. It was the account I left with its credit card, making it easier for me to buy drinks. Back then, my thoughts were that if I became an alcoholic, I wouldn't have time to beg and could avoid dwelling on my tragedy.
Looking back now, I realize how fortunate I was to have that account. It's helped me more than anything these past few years. I'm certain my family shut down my other accounts when they thought I was dead, but if they had known about my secret stash, they would have learned of my existence much sooner. But I didn't want anyone to know I was still alive.
It wasn't until I met Jasamina, Jaimie, and Xazix that I realized how much I missed my family and the world around me. I have Jasamina to thank for that. As I exited the mall, the cashier's voice brought me out of my reverie, handing me my receipt.
I thanked her and left, making my way home to find the table set with food but no sign of Jasamina. As I approached her room, I noticed she was asleep next to her child.