He stands up from the tiny chair and comes to squat next to the girls. "Your mommy and I once loved each other so hard that you two were born. See, that makes Kayla your mommy, and that makes me your daddy."
Lia looks at me, a hundred more questions in her eyes that I can't answer. For once, nothing comes out of her mouth.
"Hey." I take her hand in mine and kiss her knuckles. "It doesn't have to change anything. You, me, and Livie are a team.
And then if you want, only if you want, Nate—"
"Daddy," he corrects me right away. I'm going to have to explain to him that I won't force my daughters to call him Dad or
Daddy until he's earned it or if they want to do so.
I roll my eyes. "He can join the team too. But that's your girls' choice. Okay?"
Livie looks up again, and she pushes her hand toward me. I take it too, kissing her knuckles like I did her sister. She brings her hand back to herself, and reaches out again, touching Nate's knee.
"Hey," he says simply.
