Daddy's Love

"Whoa. Good shot." I say impressed, and Jay stares at me. He hates it when the girls fight or cuss.

The boy runs back to his daddy I suppose. I go up-to the girls while Jay goes to talk to the boy's daddy, and to check on him.

Ana tries talking to Carol but she doesn't respond.

"Carol, Ana, both of you fine?" I look at them. Both the girls nod.

"Good shot Carol. "I tell her with a wink.

"Don't encourage her Grey." Jay comes from nowhere and Carol hides behind my leg. I pick her up. Jay picks Ana up.

"Ready to go home yet?" He asks us.

"No daddy I am about to win my game! Can I go back? Pleaseeeee?" Carol jumps in my arms.

"Go ahead sweet thing." I put Carol down and she runs back to her friends again. Jay brings Ana to sit with us. She is pouting.

"So, the boy was mean to you, huh?" Jay asks her.

She nods and hides inside his chest.

"Carol, saved ya, she loves you, you know?" I tell her.

"She won't talk to me..." She whispers inside Jay's chest.

"You want to talk about it? You feel pretty bad about it, yes?" He rubs her back.

She shakes her head. We have been trying to get her to talk, she is going quieter by the day. She withdraws when she is mad or upset or hurt. And right now, I think she is a bit of all of it. After another forty minutes Jay calls out for Carol and we go home.

"Everyone, into the living room. Right now." Jay tells us as soon as we enter the house.

I look at him quizzically and he looks... I don't know... Resolute maybe?

He puts Ana on the couch and goes to the kitchen.

"Am I about to be spanked?" Carol asks me, Positively worried.

I pick her up and sit her on my lap.

"I will tell daddy not to spank her!" Ana starts. We both look at her when Jay enters with a water bottle.

"Carol come here." He says. He is sitting on a chair (without arms) near the book shelf.

"Daddy! It wasn't her fault! Don't spank Carol." She jumps off the couch and runs to Jay even before Carol gas managed to get off my laps.

"Ana, I am not spanking her. Okay?" He tells her. Carol now sighs in relief and walks up-to him.

"You don't hit people. Okay? If I see you do that again, I will spank you. Am I clear?" He tells her half-heartedly. Carol nods and grins and hugs him.

"Now, go back to the couch and sit with daddy." He tells her.

"Ana, come here." He tells Ana and takes her hand. She is standing right next to him.

"You... You are about to get a spanking, okay?"

We all look at each other, perplexed to say the least. Carol is on my lap again.

"What did she do?!" I start.

"It's not for punishment." Jay says. He looks like he is in pain and not sure whether to go on or not.

"You are... I... It'll help. Trust me, okay?" He tells me mostly. I gulp, but give an imperceptible nod. I trust Jay.

Ana looks horrified. Carol tries to look indifferent but fails miserably. She is definitely wondering what the hell is going on. Well, I am wondering the same thing.

Jay takes both her hands in his.

"Ana, it's important that you remember that I am not punishing you and that you did not do anything wrong. Okay?"

"then why...?" She says her eyes glossing over.

"Because you need it and I love you enough to do it."

"Daddy...." Ana looks at me with pleading eyes, getting no help from Jay. Both our hearts break into a thousand pieces right there. I want to pull the girl to my chest and hug her, protect her. But I remind myself it's Jay, she doesn't need to be protected from him. Plus, Jay looks more miserable than any of us.☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐