She saw that there was a bamboo plate and cutlery set up already. The plate had a picture of a sunflower on it. It reminded her of the nightgown she’d worn last night and she wondered if that had been May’s favorite flower.
She’d been thinking a bit about her. About how her life had been stolen from her when she was so young. It was so unfair. How people could just be taken like that from their loved ones.
“Princess, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay, Daddy.”
He eyed her skeptically.
“Were sunflowers May’s favorite?” she asked quietly.
“I think they were,” he replied solemnly.
She nodded.
“Here, little one.” He placed some sandwiches on the plate. They were cut out in the shape of stars.
“These are cute, Daddy,” she told him. She picked one up to check what was inside. Ham and cheese. She guessed she could deal with that.
He poured her an apple juice. Into a sippy cup once more. She scowled at it. “Not a baby, Daddy.”
“If you were a baby, you’d be getting a bottle,” he replied calmly, sitting across from her with his own mound of sandwiches and huge glass of juice.
She grumbled to herself.
“Little girl, better watch the wind doesn’t change and leave your face like that,” he lightly scolded.
“Don’t be silly, Daddy. The wind can’t do that.”
“Still, you don’t want to take the chance, do you?”
No. She guessed she didn’t.
After lunch, he wouldn’t let her help clean up. Instead, he brought out some toys from the nursery, including some dolls, a tea party set and a dollhouse and set them on the dining table in front of her. She looked at them skeptically. She was well aware she’d gone to sleep last night hugging the rag doll which was now sitting in front of her.
“I don’t know. . .” Her Little and adult side warred at each other. Could she really sit here and play? Especially with him around?
“I’m going to go and do the dishes. You can play if you like. You don’t have to.”
She chewed her lip worriedly.
But as he moved away, she stared at the dolls with some interest. She remembered her old dollhouse and how much she’d loved it. Before. . .she sighed. What would it hurt? Sure, she might feel silly but she could stop if that was the case.
Zeke kept watch over her as he cleaned up. He didn’t think she was going to play, but as he finished up the dishes and put away all the leftover food, he saw her start moving around the furniture in the dollhouse.
He’d give her a few minutes then push her a little more. He poured himself a cup of coffee and then refilled her sippy cup with water.
He walked into the dining area. She stiffened as he grew near, but he didn’t say anything. Just placed the sippy cup on the table in front of her then sat across from her with his coffee and phone. He had some checking in to do, but he wanted to see if she’d relax enough to play with him near.
When she saw he wasn’t paying her any attention, she went back to playing. Soon she was setting up a tea party for herself and her friends.
“Daddy!”
He nearly startled at her demand.
“Uh, yes, princess?”
“My dollies need tea.” She held up the teapot demandingly.