“Max,” he said. It wasn’t a question. More like understanding.
“I know he was awful. And he wasn’t much of a brother. And even if I had the money to spare, I never bothered with gifts ‘cause I didn’t know if he was gonna come home and steal them. But I have e-everything and he’s dead.”
“Oh baby. My sweet baby.” He rolled them onto their sides and stared at her, wiping away her tears. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugged, sniffled. He rolled away and grabbed some tissues from the nightstand and held them to her nose. She blew and he cleaned her up, wiping the tears away.
“I don’t know. I didn’t want to ruin Christmas by being all sad. . .”
“And so you went over-the-top with everything,” he said understandingly.
“I guess so. Part of it is that I really do love getting to have a Christmas, but part is trying to keep myself busy so I don’t think so much.”
He leaned in and kissed her softly. “Thank you for telling me, Abby.”
“You’re not mad at me? It’s not that I was holding back consciously. I just. . .I couldn’t figure it all out in my head. I hated him sometimes, but I also loved him, you know?”
“I know, sweet girl. And I don’t want you to feel you can’t talk about him, all right? So each day from now until Christmas, you’re to write down one memory about Max. Doesn’t have to be all good. Just something you want to write. Then Christmas night, we’ll read them all together. All right?”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
He smiled at her sweetly. Then he ran his hand through her long dark blonde hair. “You got the stuff you’re taking to the party ready, sweet girl?”
She nodded.
“Got your PJs? Got Boss Hog? Spare clothes and panties for tomorrow?”
“Yep, got all those.” She understood that he was trying to turn her mind onto something fun. And she wanted that too. She’d been looking forward to this party for weeks now. She, Charlie and Daisy had worked hard setting it up.
“Daddy will help you get ready then. Want me to paint your nails?”
She adored how he didn’t hesitate to offer to do things like that. In fact, he considered it all part of looking after his girl. Not a threat to his manhood. Not that much could threaten Kent’s masculinity.
He was all man.
“Charlie’s setting up a mani/pedi station, but I like the way you do my nails.”
“Then Daddy will do them for you. Let’s get you into a bath, then you can sit in your robe and I’ll do your nails and hair. Then I’ll get you dressed and we can go.”
“That sounds great, Daddy,” she said. She hadn’t been sure how she’d been going to get herself into Little headspace for this party and he’d accomplished it in a short space of time. “Except for the bath. My bottom’s too sore to sit in a bath. I need to have a shower.”
“Part of a punishment spanking is having to sit on a hot bottom,” he informed her.
She pouted.
“But Daddy ordered you some new bath toys so I think you’ll enjoy yourself.”
Well, all right then.
Abby flung the small fishing rod out, trying to catch the elusive fishy.
“Come here, Nemo. You’re tonight’s dinner,” she told the little clown fish.
Kent snorted. “Not sure you’re supposed to eat clown fish. Not that there’s much there to eat.”
“Shh, Daddy,” she scolded. “You’re scaring him away.”
“Sorry, baby. I’ll try to be quieter,” he told her as he soaped up a sponge and started washing her body. For the most part, she ignored him as she gave up fishing and reached for the bath crayons. She started drawing pictures along the sides of the bath.