Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 37

Tom woke in the early hours of the morning to Jasmine's crying and Sophie stumbling out of bed and rushing to check on the little girl. He rubbed his eyes in the darkness and listened to Sophie murmuring in the next room, before switching on the light. Tom was still getting used to being woken up in the middle of the night. Thankfully it didn't happen very often, and usually he'd just roll over and go back to sleep. Just not tonight.

"Oh sweetheart," Sophie's voice crooned as Jasmine's cries rang throughout the house. There was no getting back to sleep anytime soon. "Let's get you cleaned up."

With those words, Tom went to see if he could help and froze at the door as he took in the sight and the smell of the little girl's vomit all over her bed and her pyjamas. She'd apparently been coughing that much. He felt his stomach churn at the sight.

It shocked him into action. "Need some help?" he asked Sophie as he watched her trying to soothe her daughter and strip the bed at the same time.

Sophie nodded, relief washing over her features. "Can you change her, please?"

It only made sense that he help. He was awake anyway, and the quicker they got it all cleaned up, the quicker they could all get back to sleep.

"Sure," he nodded, grabbing a change of pyjamas and leading the little girl into the bathroom. "Come here, sweetie," he said as he pulled the soiled top off of her. He was still half asleep, but he couldn't leave Sophie to do all of this herself, especially after what he'd said the previous evening. He honestly didn't know how she'd coped with being a single parent all this time. He was drained from the little part of parenting he did do, but then the rewards were more than he'd ever imagined. The cuddles and kisses from his step-daughter were like a magic balm that made the world an amazing place, if only for a few moments. He stripped her down to her nappy and ran a damp warm face washer over her like he'd seen Sophie do several times before, then he helped the little girl into her nice clean pyjamas.

Jass screwed up her face again and started crying as he finished buttoning up her pyjama top. He drew her into his arms. "It's alright, sweetie," he said, picking her up in his arms as she clung to him.

"Daddy, my tummy hurts," she sobbed against his shoulder, which set off another coughing fit.

"Thanks for your help," Sophie glanced up at him as she wiped the bathroom floor with antiseptic wipes.

"No problem," he forced out. He hadn't realised what he'd signed up for when he'd taken on the role parenting her three year old. He'd never before had to change a nappy, or clean up all the messes children make. Tonight had been enough to make him question what the hell he was doing. He didn't know if he was cut out to be a dad.

You couldn't have thought about that before you asked her to marry you? It didn't matter what he thought he was capable of. He was Jasmine's father now, and he'd promised to be there for her and Sophie when he'd said 'I do'. He just had to suck it up and deal with everything they threw at him.

The following morning they were both a little bleary eyed. Jasmine was still unwell and Sophie had called in sick to take care of her, but he could see how tired she was.