The fucking demon.
I’d been hearing about this slide for the last six months.
“You keep talking about the demon. I don’t understand what the big deal is. It’s a slide?” Violet asked as she looked between us.
“The coolest slide in Blushing. And Denise Quigley’s mom let her do it.”
I was getting really tired of hearing about Denise Quigley. Her mother gave into her every whim, and I wasn’t going to let a seven-year-old decide if something was age-appropriate.
“Is there an age or weight requirement?” my girlfriend asked.
“No. No one monitors it,” I said. “But it’s been around forever. It’s just too steep for a kid, and I’ve seen kids get real wild on that slide. I’ll reconsider when she’s ten years old. She’s too young.”
It was my job to keep her safe.
“So it’s just a slide?” Violet chuckled.
“A big slide. A slide for older kids.” I looked at each of them.
“He finally let me start riding a two-wheeler,” Harper huffed. “Lily has been riding a two-wheeler since she was five years old. And she’s asking her mom if she can go on the demon.”
“Lose the attitude, Harps. We don’t do things just because other people do them,” I said.
“I don’t want to do it because other people do it, Daddy. I think it’s cool, and I know I could do it. You did it when you were a lot younger than me. Mrs. McAffrey even told me so.”
I’ll be giving Jeanne a piece of my mind next time I see her.
“I didn’t have parents looking out for me when I was your age. So yeah, I did things that weren’t smart. I got hurt doing dumb things, when it could have been avoided. My job is to keep you safe. End of story.”
She frowned, and Violet looked between us before turning her attention to my daughter. “Hey, you’re pretty lucky having a daddy who looks out for you. I didn’t have anyone watching out for me when I was a kid, and I used to be very jealous of the kids who had parents who cared.” Violet took her hand and squeezed it.
Harper sighed. “I know. But I’m not a baby.”
“I don’t think you’re a baby,” I said, stopping myself from calling her “baby girl.” I added, “I think you’re very strong and capable. And you are killing it on your two-wheeler. Come on. We have a deal that we never stay mad at one another. Give me a hug.”
So maybe I’m a little irrational sometimes when it comes to safety.
A wide grin spread across my daughter’s face, and she moved to her feet and climbed on my lap. “I love you more than all the blueberry pancakes.”
“I love you more than all the birds in the sky,” I said.
Violet moved to her feet and wrapped her arms around us. “I love you more than all the pink balloons.”
Harper laughed hysterically, and I winked at Violet as I set my daughter down on her feet.
“All right, I’ve got to drop you at school early, Harps. I need to meet the landscaper over at the hotel.” I stood up and reached for their breakfast plates.
“Oh man, I don’t want to go early today because Lily has a dentist appointment, so she won’t be there to play before school.”
“I can take you. I don’t have to be at work for an hour,” Violet said. She’d gone with me to drop off and pick up Harper from school a couple of times before. But she’d never done it solo.
“Yay!” Harper held her hand up to high-five my girlfriend.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes, of course. It’s on the way. And that way I can scope out Davey,” she said, and I rolled my eyes.
“Sounds good. I’ll see you both later.” I kissed Harper on the cheek, and then I dipped Violet back and kissed her.
