The picture was more of a collage. More art supplies had turned up this morning, including lots of pieces of material and textured, thick card. She’d been painting, cutting and pasting for the last hour.
Aleki set down the tray on the floor then stood back to study her picture. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. She held her breath, waiting.
“It’s perfect.”
“Whew! Don’t scare me like that, Papa!” She waggled a finger at him. “I thought you didn’t like it.”
Walking forward with a smile, he gently grasped hold of her finger then leaned in to kiss the tip of her nose. “How could I not like anything you created, baby girl.”
Aww. Her heart melted.
“Now, go clean up. I’m hungry.” He turned her towards the bathroom door and laid a smack on her ass.
She turned back with a pout. “When aren’t you hungry?”
Aleki rubbed his tummy. “That would be never. Go. Or I’ll tell Wolfe you’re refusing to eat.”
“Papa, you fight dirty!”
“When a man is hungry then all bets are off. Now, do you need my help?”
“I gots it. I is a big girl.” She stomped towards the bathroom.
He suddenly wrapped an arm around her from behind, making her come to a stop. “No, you’re not. You’re my precious baby. Have I told you how happy I am to have you back in my life?”
And the rest of her melted.
“Now go. Enough procrastinating.”
She thought she was safe to roll her eyes. When she finished cleaning up, she returned to find he’d set a picnic blanket out on the floor and had poured them both some orange juice. Hers was in a sippy cup.
“Where’d you find the blankie, Papa?” she asked as she sat on the floor.
“Grabbed it from the hall closet while you were cleaning up. Drink some juice.”
She sighed. “I don’t needs a sippy cup, Papa.” But she was thirsty so she grabbed it and drank some down. The cup had a smiling pig on the front. That was actually pretty cute.
“Yes, you do,” he replied calmly.
Vivi stared down at the plate in front of her. It was filled with cut-up dates, muskmelon and grapes. But it had all been artfully placed so the pieces of fruit formed a face.
“Papa, what’s this?”
“It’s a fruit face,” he replied. “You’ve never had a fruit face before?”
“No, it’s so cute. I don’t wants to eat it.”
“You can eat it, I’ll make you one any time you like.”
“Really?”
“That’s what I’m here for, baby girl. To make you happy.”
“I want to make you happy too,” she said quietly.
Leaning over, he kissed her lightly. “And you do. Now, after all this good, healthy food, how about we go make cupcakes? I’ll even let you eat some.”
She gave a mock-gasp. “Wolfie won’t be happy.”