Epilogue

Caleb

From that first weekend we spent together, we both decided we wanted more.

More time together. More attention to each other. And more opportunities to support and provide what we each needed.

For Mack, that meant helping him embrace his milk beyond just making me happy. It took a few weeks of meeting with Steve and other guys from The Lactin Brotherhood, but he quickly built some strong friendships within the local chapter and even joined the emergency response team to support hospitals, shelters, and first responders during emergency situations. His first call was to provide donated milk to a children's hospital that experienced a fire and lost some of their formula storage for infants and children. Most of the guys in the brotherhood answered the call, but for Mack, it meant more than just doing something good for the community. It was validation to him that his gift truly did make a difference and helped those in need, which he needed to hear, and helped him fully accept that his condition wasn't a negative symptom of his mother's selfish decisions.

For me, it meant getting Mack to move into my home as quickly as possible. Since he was renting a house that he wasn't particularly attached to, we bought out his lease and he moved in before the end of the month. It was a calculated risk that we both felt comfortable taking. I wasn't ever letting him go, so the risk was that he'd get tired of taking care of me. But I didn't see that happening either.

From the moment I got home in the evening, timed to be just thirty minutes after Mack got home on most days, he was my Daddy. He helped me undress and get comfortable before giving me a snack and some toys to play with. As I shed my Big thoughts and got into my Little mindspace, he took the reins and made sure I was happy and healthy. He was more than I ever thought a Daddy could be, and I loved him with my whole heart.

"You ready for dinner, sweetheart?" His fingers slipped through my hair as I finished coloring in the zoo animals coloring book he bought for me.

"Yes, Daddy." I put my crayon in the box of colors and closed the book. "Nuggies?"

He sighed. "You had nuggies last night. Today is healthy pizza."

My brows automatically furrowed, not liking that word too much. "How healthy?"

"Lots of cheese. Lots of spinach. And a little bit of tomatoes."

"Oh, my favorite." I popped up from the ground and threw my arms around his neck. "Your cheese?"

He flashed a sheepish grin. "Steve's. Mine wasn't good, but I'll keep trying. I'll get it right eventually."

I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him hard, not pulling away until I was breathless. "I'm gonna pretend it's yours. And next time, I'll help you make it. I took a class once, so I think we can get it."

"Deal." He kissed the tip of my nose and then turned me toward the kitchen. "Let's eat before it gets cold and then we can watch a show."

As we walked, I leaned my head on his shoulder and blew out a contented sigh. "Promise you'll always love me, Daddy?"

He stopped and held my face in his strong hands, looking right into my eyes with every ounce of love that was always there. "I promise, sweetheart. You'll always be my Little boy, and I'll always be your Daddy. I love you too much to let you get away."

"Thank you, Daddy." I kissed his chin, then his mouth, then his nose. "Now let's eat. My tummy needs to be half filled up and then you can fill up the rest after."