Daddy's Love

Carol is being such a brat. I understand she hates shots and all, but who doesn't? She has used more expletives than I have heard in the longest while now. She is just making a face and sitting with Ana, on the backseat. She even snapped at Ana when she tried to cheer her up. Christian is protecting Carol from my wrath it seems.

We stop for ice creams.

"Which one would you like to have, girls?"

"I'll have a chocolate!" That's Grey. I stare at him. He grins. He loves ice cream.

"I'll have bubble gum, daddy!" Ana says and looks at me. She called me daddy? I look at Grey. Everyone seems oblivious.

"You sweetheart?" I ask Carol.

"I don't want any." She makes a face. I know she likes mint. I'll get her that. I get two chocolates for me and Grey and the flavours for the girls. Everyone looks happy, except Carol. The moment I give her the ice cream she throws it inside the car.

"I'll get her another one." Grey says opening the door.

"No. Get back. "

"But...

"I said, no."

Christian gets back inside but no one seems to be enjoying their ice creams anymore.

At lunch, Carol sat stoic in her seat. Everyone ignored her on my insistence.

We get back home and I have a headache. Carol's misbehaving. She needs a good thrashing it seems. Ana clings onto me, gauging on my sour mood. She doesn't want Carol to get into trouble. "Girls, you must be tired. Let's tuck you in for a nap, okay?" Christian tells them.

"No daddy! We want to play!" Ana says.

"My sweet girl, you can play after you wake up okay?" I tell her.

"But we got a shot... And it hurts and I don't want to sleep and if we play, we might forget about the pain..." She tries all her tricks to convince us to let them play. I can't help but chuckle. "My little minx!" I tickle her a little.

"You both cab play, okay? Go up, play all you want."

Grey, meanwhile smiles at Carol.

They both go upstairs.

"That went well." Grey tells me.

"Sure, it did. My head will split into two." I say.

Grey gets me a Tylenol. I gulp it down and just then we hear the fire alarms again! We both run upstairs to the girl's room and see a terrified Ana and a nonplussed Carol. The curtains are on fire!

I grab both the girls and bring them downstairs while Grey uses the fire extinguisher on the curtains. The fire, thankfully ceases.

"You set the curtain on fire?!" I ask Carol. She is unbelievable.

"It's my fault... I left the matchbox... " Grey starts.

"Don't you FUCKING dare... "I tell him. He flinches and Carol hides behind his legs.

"CAROL COME OUT RIGHT NOW! YOU SET THE ROOM ON FIRE?! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

When she doesn't come out, I pull her by her arms.

Grey holds my hand.

"GET AWAY, GREY! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! JUST BECAUSE SHE GOT A SHOT, SHE WANTS TO SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE?! SHE WANTS TO KILL ALL OF US?!"

I am raging.

"Jay, stop. Listen to me... "

"LIKE HELL I WILL! WHY ARE YOU EVEN STILL TRYING TO SAVE HER ASS?! ARE YOU, IS SHE INSANE?"

"Not while you're angry. Don't come near the girls." He looks resolute. I look at the girls. Sure, both of them are clinging to Christian and crying so hard.

I storm out of the house.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐