Chapter 9: Time Together
Karone was at the daycare with her daughter and the other kids playing a little game of tag. Karone laughed as her daughter. "MOMMY, HELP ME!" Kamilah called. Karone smiled and then Leo picked Kamilah up and ran away from the other kids.
"I'll protect you, Kamilah," he stated.
Kamilah giggled and then the parents came to get their kids. Kamilah then hugged Leo with a smile. Leo hugged her back and kissed the side of her head.
When they got home, Karone took Kamilah upstairs for a nap while Leo was waiting for her in the living room. "Leo, Kamilah wants you," she informed. Leo got up and went upstairs.
Kamilah was snug in her bed when Leo came in. "Hey, you should be getting some sleep," he insisted. He gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "Sweet dreams, Kamilah," he whispered.
"Night, night, daddy," Kamilah yawned.
Leo was stunned at her words. Then he left to go into the living room.
He saw Karone sitting on the couch with a smile. "What's wrong?" She asked. Leo sat next to her in disbelief.
"Your daughter just called me daddy," he replied.
Karone smiled and placed her head on his shoulder. "Since the day we came here, she hoped that you'd be here daddy," she stated. Leo held her hand and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Maybe one day we can make it official," he commented.
Karone looked at him with a quizzical look. "Don't worry, I'm not proposing just yet. Maybe one day in the near future after everything is settled," he assured her. Karone sighed and closed her eyes when he placed a kiss on her lips.
When they were expecting Zavier to be home soon, Karone was in the kitchen preparing dinner when Leo wrapped his arms around her waist and placed a kiss on her neck. "Leo, stop," she giggled.
"When have you become less playful?" He asked.
"Since I became a mother to two children,' she replied.
"Come on, just a little fun."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Come on."
"No."
"Can we have just a little bit of fun?"
She looked at him with a smile. "Maybe later, if you're a good boy," she commented. Leo pouted but then he pulled her into another kiss. They heard the door to the kitchen close rather sharply and looked over to see Zavier standing there. "Hey, honey," she greeted. Zavier glared at Leo.
"Get your hands off my mom," he snapped.
"Zavier," Karone scolded.
"I said get your hands off my mom."
"Zavier, you better apologize to Leo this minute."
"NO!"
Karone watched as her son ran upstairs and sighed. "I'll be back," she informed. She walked up the stairs to Zavier's bedroom. "Zavier, what has gotten into you?" She demanded.
"He's not dad," Zavier replied.
"I know he's not dad."
"And you broke your promise."
"Excuse me?"
"You promised that no one will take dad's place. You said that dad will always be in our family. I came home and found you kissing Leo like dad didn't even exist."
"Zavier, you better stop right there."
"Why?"
"Because I want to tell you that I haven't broken my promise."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't and we can argue about this all night, but I am telling you now that I better not find you treating our guest like that ever again. I raised you better than that."
"You promised that no one can take daddy's place," he insisted.
Karone stroked her son's hair with a sigh. "And no one will take your daddy's place. Daddy is always going to be with us," she assured him.
"Kamilah likes Leo. She wouldn't care if you married him," he mumbled.
"Oh, sweet heart, she was so little when it happened. She really doesn't have any memory of your father. She will know who he is and what he did through my memories and the pictures we have of him."
Zavier sighed and Karone had him go downstairs and apologize to Leo.
Leo was trying not to burn dinner when Zavier walked over to him. "Leo, I'm sorry for being so mean," he apologized. Leo picked him up with a smile.
"You are forgiven little man," he chuckled.
Leo smiled at the young boy and looked over at Karone. "Hey, is it okay if I kiss your mom?" He asked.
"Yeah, as long as I'm not looking," Zavier replied.
The two adults laughed before Leo put the boy back on the floor. He walked over to Karone and pulled her into his arms. He then gave her a kiss.
