Progress, possibly. Or madness. Either way, I’ll take it.
22
Peanut Butter Laundry Fraud
Ivy
Theo opens the doorand greets me with a smile. “Hey, Ivy. Come in.”
I step inside and follow him down the corridor. As we approach the living room, I notice Lucy sitting on a small chair in the hallway, facing the wall, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. She looks entirely unamused, her little body stiff with defiance.
I lean closer to Theo and whisper, “What’s she doing?”
Before he can reply, Lucy’s voice rings out, sharp and stubborn. “Daddy’s unfair!”
Theo sighs, sounding a mix of exasperation and fondness. “Lucy,” he gently warns her.
She doesn’t respond, just continues to glare at the wall in protest.
Theo looks back at me. “She got a bit too excited about hanging out with you. When I asked her to tidy awayher crayons, she told me to do it myself, so I gave her a five-minute timeout.”
I glance back at Lucy, who’s still frozen in her little timeout stance. “And how long has she been like this?”
Theo winces. “Two minutes left.”
Lucy stays where she is, her back to us, and I hear a small sniffle escape her. It’s barely audible, but it’s enough to make my heart crack a little. I want to scoop her up and hug her but I don’t think Theo will thank me if I’ll do that.
He glances down at her, then sighs softly, leading me away from the hallway toward the living room. “Sometimes,” he says quietly, “I feel like I’m not sure what I’m doing as a dad.”
I look over at him as I place my tote bags with cake and clay for the gnomes on the counter. I’m surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. He’s usually so confident when it comes to Lucy, but I can see that this moment has shaken him. I give him a reassuring smile. “Theo, you’re doing fine. She’s just testing boundaries, like all kids do. You’re a great dad.”
He gives a small, almost reluctant nod but doesn’t quite meet my eyes. “I don’t know. Sometimes I think I’m too forgiving with her because she doesn’t have a mum. Maybe I’m not strict enough with her.”
I give his upper arm a gentle, reassuring stroke. “Nonsense, she is a great kid. Every child plays up every so often. I was a wild child when I was little.”
I wonder if he’s questioning more than just his role as a dad, but I don’t push. Not now.
The quiet stretches, until finally, the silence is broken by a soft, unmistakable sound—a very clear ping from the oventimer.
Theo clears his throat softly, calling out to Lucy, “Alright, time’s up, Lucy. If you’re ready to apologise, you can come in.”
There’s a pause, then a small shuffle from the hallway. Lucy slowly steps into the living room, her head down, looking slightly embarrassed. She’s tugging at her sleeves, a sign of her discomfort.
She whispers, barely audible, “I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Theo doesn’t hesitate. He kneels down to her level, his expression softening. Lucy immediately launches herself into his arms, and he holds her tight. For a moment, they just stay there, wrapped up in each other, a quiet comfort between them.
Theo pulls back slightly and says gently, “Okay, Ladybug, now can you tidy your crayons away like I asked?”
Lucy sniffles, her face still flushed, and with a small, embarrassed sigh, she nods. “Okay, Daddy. Love you.”
“Love you too, Lu.”
I study Theo for a moment as he watches Lucy, and a quiet pride settles on his face. It’s not a big showy thing, but it’s there—the satisfaction of knowing he’s doing something right.
I grin and nudge him gently, my voice playful. “See? First-class dad right here.”
"Thanks," he murmurs, his gaze soft. He’s grateful, though he doesn’t say it directly. And somehow, that makes it mean more.
