Chapter 53

(Gustave's POV)

After a day full of entertaining Chrissy in any way I could think of, she fell asleep in my lap as we were watching the fireworks on Coney. It was still another hour before Papa was supposed to come get her, so I brought her home. I sat on the couch and held her in my arms as tightly as possible. Her eyelids fluttered as she dreamt. Tears came from my eyes and landed in her hair as my hand absent-mindedly stroked her little back.

I got to hold my daughter – my tiny little daughter. Silently I prayed that she would never get too old for me to hold her like this, or furthermore that she would always want me to.

"Are you sure you don't want something to eat?" Erin asked barely above a whisper as she dried her hands on a dish towel.

"I'm perfectly happy right where I'm at."

She smiled and tip toed towards us. She kissed Chrissy's temple, and then she leaned up to kiss my forehead. I sighed happily and completely relaxed on the couch. I could easily get used to this life. It really made me realize what I had been missing. I had been an idiot to give the precious child in my arms away. This was where she belonged, and I wanted nothing more for this to be where she stayed.

Just as I was dozing off myself, there was a knock on the door. I stood, being careful not to wake Chrissy and met Papa at the door.

"I assume that you had a nice time," Papa said with his chin raised. He looked awfully intimidating as he leaned on his cane and looked out from under his hat.

"We did," I answered. "She's asleep. I can walk home with you if you don't feel like carrying her."

His eyes studied my face, Chrissy, Erin standing in the living room, and then back again. He sighed and pressed his fingers to his temple. "In all honesty, she seems happy right where she is at, and it's awfully chilly tonight. I don't want her to catch a cold. If you promise to get her back first thing in the morning, I suppose it would be alright if she slept here for the night."

I couldn't stifle the smile that was breaking through. "I would be delighted to keep her for the night."

"Yes, well, as long as you promise to behave yourself. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," I mumbled. "And thank you, Papa."

He waved the back of his hand and continued on as I shut the door. "Did he seem out of it to you?" I asked Erin.

She sighed. "I wouldn't blame him for being a little sad. After all, this is the first night he hasn't slept across the hall from Chrissy in a couple of years. It probably concerns him a little."

"Concerns him? I'm her father."

"Well, yes, we know that, but she doesn't. Gustave, I know you'll be a good father," she said placing her hand on my shoulder. "Just give it a little more time. It won't be long now."

I smiled and yawned. "Care to join us on the couch?" I asked wiggling my eyebrows.

She laughed and untied her apron. "I would love to."

Carefully, I sat down and cuddled Chrissy close. Erin curled up on the couch and rested her head on my other shoulder. Her left hand softly clutched my own as I buried my head in her red strands of silk. "Can every day of the rest of our lives be like this?" I mumbled.

I felt Erin smile. "Maybe it can be." She yawned and nuzzled her head in my shoulder. "You're going to be such a good father, Gustave."

"I just wish I was better father to start with. Chrissy deserved so much better."

"Well, you're here now. That's all that matters."

"You know, there's someone missing here," I sighed. "Alex!" I called towards his bedroom. "Do you feel like coming in here, buddy?" Stumbling feet made their way across the floor and stopped in front of me. I chuckled as I saw his messy hair and his pajama shirt hanging lopsided off of his narrow shoulders. "We just felt like there was someone missing here," I smiled. "Care to join us?"

He wrinkled his nose and rubbed his eyes. "No thanks. I'll be in bed. Goodnight."

Erin rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, pulling him down on the couch next to her. "Come on. Be social for once." Alex groaned, but he curled up on the sofa and shut his eyes trying to go back to sleep. "Be a grouch then," Erin teased as she poked his bony side. He squirmed and groaned once more as he hugged the couch cushion.

Everything was silent for a while. Chrissy still snoozed soundly on my chest. Alex was still curled around the pillow. I could tell that Erin's eyes were growing heavy by the way her eyelashes fluttered. Looking at the clock, I realized that we had been contently sitting there for over two hours. It was already midnight, not that I minded.

I smiled. "This – this is what life should be like."

Erin, gently squeezing my hand, muttered back, "I couldn't agree more."

I fell into a contented sleep until morning.