Daddy's Love

I don't want to talk to daddy. I don't want to talk to Uncle Jay. I want to be alone with my elephant (whose name I still can't decide). I am on the breakfast bar and Uncle Jay is feeding Carol waffles and daddy is trying to feed me. I don't want to eat. I sit there and pout, refusing to open my mouth, even if the waffles look yummy. Daddy let Mr. G take me. I hate daddy. I hate Uncle Jay. They promised they'd be there with me all the time. They were not. Daddy looks miserable. He isn't eating either. Carol is the only one eating.

I just want to sleep, again. Or maybe read. I haven't read anything in three days.

"Open up, Ana. It's been three days since you have had any solid food. Please." daddy implores.

"Not hungwie." I say. That has been my standard response to food for the past three days.

"Chris, why don't you tell Carol the Vampire story that you were telling Ana the other day?" Uncle Jay asks daddy.

"Yyyessss, Pleaseeeee uncle Christian!" Carol says and starts jumping on her high chair.

"Hey Missy, don't you jump and no talking with food in your mouth." Uncle Jay mildly scolds Carol.

Daddy smiles at Carol.

Uncle Jay's Pov

"Once upon a time there was a little girl.... She had a daddy who was a Vampire." Christian starts.

Both the girls look at him intently.

"One way the girl refused to eat all the mice on her plate. The Vampire daddy said "You need to eat all these mice, my sweet bat." He says in a make-believe voice.

He feeds Ana a bite. She eats it. We both almost sigh in relief.

"The little girl was not hungry; she said "No daddy, no more. I am not hungwie."

Another bite.

"The Vampire daddy got really mad. His eyes got red. He said " You have to eat what's on your plate. You shouldn't waste food!"

"But mouse is not fooooodddd uncle Christian!" Carol squeals.

"It's what the Vampire made their babies have." Chris says with a series face.

Both the girls make a face, but eat their food.

"The little girl did not want to have any. So, the daddy he picked the baby girl up....'

Another bite.

Both the girls look at him wide eyed.

"Put the girl on the couch...."

The food is almost over.

"Held both her hands in one of his...."

The girls look like they're about to cry.

"And became a tickle monster! And started tickling his baby!" Grey says playfully and we both tickle the babies. They giggle and laugh, both of them!

Ana suddenly remembers that she was mad at us and stops laughing. She looks at her empty plate and is disappointed to have eaten her food.

"It's okay Ana, you are mad at us, not the food." I tell her gently.

Her eyes fill up with unshed tears and it breaks my heart. Jay flinches too.

"Hey, who would like to go to the park?" I ask.

Carol jumps up all excited.

"I sweep." Ana mutters. She is like a turtle who goes back in her shell at the slightest provocation right now.

"Would you like to read to book instead? You've been sleeping too much baby." I ask her. Grey told me Ana loves to read books.

We are staying with them till Ana gets better. Being around Carol sometimes, brings Ana out of her sour mood. Carol is having a blast at her uncle's house. Ana gives an imperceptible nod.

Christian flashes her a smile and carries her to the living room.

"Daddy, park?" Carol asks me with a pout.

I can't help but chuckle.00000☐☐☐