Neal leaned over the bed and wondered at how quickly time was passing. It seemed like just yesterday, he held his newborn daughter in his arms. She was howling in utter indignation at the new world she was in. Cold and wet and naked, Neal certainly didn’t blame her. Not one bit.
But today was Emily’s third birthday and he was as amazed and humbled by this miracle as he was the day she was born.
His little girl opened her eyes, blinked and smiled. “Da da.” She held out her arms, ready to get up and great the day.
“Go back to sleep, sweetheart – it’s too early.”
“Wanna get up. Wanna play with Da da.”
Neal smiled and sat down next to his daughter. Peter and El would kill him if they knew how much he spoiled their child. “How about I tell you a story, and if you’re a good girl and stay in bed for a little while longer, you’ll have a special surprise waiting for you when you wake up.”
Emily bit her lip and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “A pony?”
He bopped her on the tip of her nose. “No, silly, not a pony.”
“A new puppy?”
“Em?”
“A kitty? I want a kitty.”
“Emily-Jemmily, if I told you…it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
His daughter scrunched up her little face, trying to understand if he was pulling a fast one on her. She smiled again, and it was like the sun breaking through storm clouds. Neal almost thought he could see rainbows glitter around the room. “Tell me a story, Da da.”
A little schmoop for you...
But today was Emily’s third birthday and he was as amazed and humbled by this miracle as he was the day she was born.
His little girl opened her eyes, blinked and smiled. “Da da.” She held out her arms, ready to get up and great the day.
“Go back to sleep, sweetheart – it’s too early.”
“Wanna get up. Wanna play with Da da.”
Neal smiled and sat down next to his daughter. Peter and El would kill him if they knew how much he spoiled their child. “How about I tell you a story, and if you’re a good girl and stay in bed for a little while longer, you’ll have a special surprise waiting for you when you wake up.”
Emily bit her lip and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “A pony?”
He bopped her on the tip of her nose. “No, silly, not a pony.”
“A new puppy?”
“Em?”
“A kitty? I want a kitty.”
“Emily-Jemmily, if I told you…it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
His daughter scrunched up her little face, trying to understand if he was pulling a fast one on her. She smiled again, and it was like the sun breaking through storm clouds. Neal almost thought he could see rainbows glitter around the room. “Tell me a story, Da da.”
“Once upon a time, there was a princess…”