"Honey, isn't he going to slip?" Daniel was on high alert as he held Ashton who was casually sitting on the baby tub worriedly while bathing him.
"He's not going to slip, Daniel. Just chill."
"But he's slippery… Why did you buy this crap? Shouldn't it have some kind of like a seat belt to hold him in place or something?" Daniel was referring to the baby tub where Ashton was sitting; the little boy was wiggling his arms and splashing water everywhere, wetting Daniel's clothes.
Samantha threw her head back laughing when she saw Daniel trying to hold his son in place while his head turned to the side, avoiding the water that his son was splashing on him. She walked closer, carrying a fluffy towel in her hand and placed it on Daniel's chest. "He's fine, honey. You worry too much... babies are actually great swimmers. I'm even planning to start taking him to classes soon. Now, take him out and wrap him with this towel."
"My baby boy will go swimming?" Daniel followed Samantha's instructions until he was finally able to put the towel around Ashton securely. After which, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Apply some lotion on him.
"Next, diapers.
"Lastly, clothes."
Samantha taught Daniel the basic things that he needed to know for Ash. Another sigh came out from Daniel, making Samantha chuckle. She loved seeing him taking care of their son; it was such a lovely sight. She gave him a kiss on the cheek as a reward.
"How did you manage to do all that everyday?" Daniel thought that although the tasks were doable, doing them every day since their son was an infant should have been very tough.
"I don't know either." Just as Samantha said those, her phone rang. "Hello?" She answered when she saw that it was Hanna who was calling her.
"Hey, S. What are you doing all day?"
"Nothing in particular. I'll just be staying at home the whole day and take care of Ashton. Why what's up?"
"Well… you see…" Hannah convinced Samantha to go out with her and Becca to prepare for her upcoming wedding. At first, Samantha wanted to decline because she couldn't possibly leave Daniel and Ashton alone. She also wanted to spend time with them but after Hannah's reminder, she was convinced.
When the phone call ended, Samantha sat on the bed and looked at Daniel who was reading a book with Ashton who probably did not understanding anything yet the little boy was staring at the book's colors and stuff.
Noticing that Samantha was staring at him, he stopped and returned her gaze. "What's up?"
"Honey… Sweetheart… Ummm… Do you remember when you told me that I should take a break because I didn't do anything else other than taking good care of our precious little baby who's very handsome and has inherited your outstanding looks?" Samantha said everything in one long breath with a bright smile on her face.
Puzzled, Daniel started to feel nervous because of her long introduction. He had a feeling that the words he told her recently were going to bite him in the butt that day. His brows scrunched up a little as he asked, "Y-yeah?"
Samantha walked around the bed to position herself on Daniel's other side. Place his arm around her, she laid her head on his chest. She immediately clung on to him and acted coyly. "Well… you also told me that you will take care of some wedding stuff and I take care of some wedding stuff… you see, I will take care of those things today… heh heh heh… So… Um… I will go out… and you will stay here. With your son. The two of you together. The whole day. Yeah? Heh…"
She gulped. If it was any other day, she wouldn't be so worried asking this from him. But that day, there was no one else at home since her parents were out of town so that would mean that Daniel will have to babysit his baby Ashton alone.
Seeing that Samantha had asked his permission like that, he couldn't say no. So although he wasn't sure how he was going to take care of Ashton the whole day by himself, he nodded his head. "Okay, who's going with you? Bring Philip."
Samantha's eyes widened. "Really? Are you going to be okay alone? I mean… I'm sure you'll be fine, honey. You're a great dad! You got this!" She gave him a huge smack on the lips and scurried away to prepare.
Shaking his head, Daniel looked at his son who was also looking back at him. "I guess it's just you and me today, bud. We'll be okay, right?"
"Mhmm," Ashton mummed as he chewed on his fingers.
"Yeah… we'll be alright." He said before pursing his lips.
Soon after, they were at the door seeing off Samantha.
"Call me if you have any questions. You guys have fun." Samantha gave them kisses before she got inside Hannah's car.
"Bye, Daniel! Don't call Samantha if it's not an emergency." Hannah yelled through the window, earning a snicker from Becca and Samantha.
Chuckling, Daniel nodded and waved. "You girls have fun." Raising Ash's hand, he waved it to Samantha. "Bye, mommy."
"S, you did a good thing. This is Daniel's time to experience being a father. If you're constantly there, he won't learn anything." Hannah said as she drove away.
"Hannah's right. Besides, it's Daniel we're talking about here. He's a fast learner… I'm sure he'll do just fine." Becca chimed in.
"Hmmm… I hope so." Samantha still worried but she believed that he will survive the day with Ashton.
…
Three hours later.
Samantha's room was a little chaotic than normal.
Books and toys everywhere, milk spills here and there and the little man just won't take a nap! He knew he shouldn't have given him more than enough snacks but he did anyway because Ashton kept asking for more. How could daddy say no to those puffy cheeks?
Daniel was exhausted but he did not complain at all. He had just finished feeding baby Ash his lunch and was trying to clean the mess on the floor when he heard his phone ring.
Reaching for his phone inside his trouser pockets with mashed-potato-messy hands, he managed to pick up the call. "Yes, Ahn."
"Boss, we have a problem..." Ahn explained the situation to his boss. Daniel already told him that he was going to take the day off but the matter on hand needed his immediate response. "Sorry, boss…"
Looking at his son who was creating more mess by dropping globs of mashed potato on the floor, Daniel sighed and rubbed his forehead. He sure had a lot on his plate that day.
"Got it. I'll be there in an hour. Let them wait in the meeting room." Daniel ended the call and hastily cleaned the floor before he picked his son up and brought him to the bedroom.
He changed his clothes as well as Ashton's and when the two of them were ready, they got in the car that Ahn drove to pick them up.
After setting Ashton in the car seat, Daniel looked at him in the eyes with a serious expression on his face. "Listen up, soldier. You and I are alone today with no mommy so you only have me. The world is scary outside and I want you to man up and not cry on me today, understood?"
Assistant Ahn knitted his brows as he glanced at his boss from the rearview mirror. 'Is that how you're supposed to talk to your son?'
"Keep your eyes on the road, Ahn." Daniel scolded without even looking at his assistant, making Ahn think if his boss had another eye that he didn't know about.
Clearing his throat, Ahn focused on the road ahead.. "Yes, boss."