CREATION OF LIFE: it takes nine months, and you'd expect, well more like prayer, that they'd look an ounce like you. But, in my case, that's not what happened.
Our daughter was the spitting image of Lucas. With her smile and personality, at the ripe age of two, there was no doubt that she was her daddy's daughter.
Since the day she was born, her eyes were set on him. I'd imagine she'd be Mama's girl. I was wrong; she was attached to him at the hip. And vice versa, he felt the obligation to be her protector; he would never let anything or anyone harm her.
Lucas' traveling schedule was a mess, and between club football and being called for international friendlies at random moments, she craved his attention.
'When will papai read me a story?' 'When will papai tuck me in?' 'Is papai coming home today?'
The same questions every week, with similar answers.
Lucas walked through the door, dropping his bags. My eyes lit up with surprise, "Baby," I rushed toward him. "Hi," his voice was a solemn whisper.
"Is Aurea sleeping?" he asked. "Yeah, she has been asking for you. She missed you," I fix the collar of his jumper. "I'm sure," he laughed.
"Did you miss me?" he smirks. "No," I lied.
His hands trail around the small of my back. His breath tickled my collarbone, planting soft kisses on my neck. "Mm, I did miss you," the butterflies ran through my body.
My fingers tickled the back of his neck as he softly kissed my lips. Lucas pulled me closer to him, but before anything furthered, I heard tiny footsteps run along the wooden floor.
"Mamãe," a voice called out.
We quickly pulled apart, like two nasty teenagers being caught doing something wrong. "Mãe," Aurea's voice got louder.
"Hi, ursinho," Lucas called out. "Pai!" the thrill of excitement was laced in her sleepy voice. "Hi, baby," his smile was as wide as hers.
"I missed you so much," she wraps her tiny arms around his neck. "I missed you more," he mumbled as he kissed her cheek. "You've been away for so long," she complains.
"I know, but that's what I have to do for work," Lucas looks at her, "I hate your stupid job," she pouts. "Baby," he chuckled. "My job is the best in the world. When you grow up, I promise, you'll understand how cool it is," he tells her.
I slipped out a laugh as I looked at Lucas' face falter a bit. He knew she was kidding, but it hurt him to see his little girl upset. Tears flooded her small eyes.
"Don't cry, baby," he wiped her face. "I'm home now," he gently whispered. "I don't like when you leave," she tells him.
I stood there, watching the most wholesome interaction.
"Papai, can you tuck me back in?" she asked. "Absolutely, princesa," he swooped her off her feet, carrying her back up to her room.
The feeling of her asking made my heart ache. It used to be a routine of Lucas walking in, scooping her up, and putting her to sleep. No questions asked. But as the attention rose on him, and as he improved as a player, he was much more busy.
And after that, he would shower and spend the rest of the night with me. And maybe Aurea couldn't understand or realize he was gone a lot, but I did. Sometimes, it was hard; you just needed your husband, or she needed her father, but it sounded selfish if I asked him to give things up just for a few more moments.
I picked Lucas' bags up and brought them into the laundry room before making my way back upstairs. I watched through the crack of Aurea's door. Lucas lightly hummed her song as she trailed back to sleep.
He pushed aside her beautiful wavy hair, the one thing she'd inherited from me and placed a kiss on her head before creeping out of the room. He was startled by the sight of me standing there. A clear gasp escaped his lips.
"Come, let's go to bed," he grabs my hand.
A quick change of clothes and we were under our sheets in no time, "How was Saudi?" I turn toward him. "It was nice. I wish you guys were able to come out," he cleared the hair from my face. "Me too, but it was only a short trip," I whispered.
"I'm just glad to be home and with my girls again," he pulls me on top of him. "We missed you very much," I lean down to kiss him.
His hands trailed under my shirt as he pulled me closer. As things turned more passionate, I heard tiny footsteps once again. "Babe," I roll off his body.
The door swung open, and there stood Aurea yet again.
"Papai," her voice creaked. "Come here, anjo. O que está errado?" he cooed as she walked over to his side of the bed.
She crawled into our bed, clinging onto his body. "What's wrong?" he asked her again. "I missed you," she began to cry once more. "I'm right here, baby; I'm not going anywhere," he told her.
Lucas held onto her tightly, "I just hate when you leave," she tells him. "I know. I missed you so much. I missed you more than mamãe," he smirked.
"Aye," I playfully tap his arm, causing her to giggle a bit. "Mommy missed you so much, but you didn't miss her," she smiled. "I only missed you," he winked.
She yet again hugged him tightly, then looked at me. "I'm sorry mamãe," she latched onto me. "Why?" I softly ask her. "Because he loves me more," she tells me.
I stifled a laugh once more, "Who wouldn't?" I look at her.
"Is it okay if I stay in here?" she looks between us. "You never have to ask, anjo," Lucas tells her.
She slides into the middle spot between us as she turns toward Lucas and quickly drifts off to sleep.
✎ haven't written about him in forever
translations:
anjo- angel
princesa- princess
ursinho- teddy bear
O que está errado?- what's wrong
aurea- golden ( name meaning )
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