Page 53 of Jackass

“Time to get up, Mommy. It’s time for breakfast,” she urged.

Turning my head to see the clock, I noticed it was barely six thirty. Why couldn’t children recharge their batteries during the day? I guess because then they would be up all night and I would be in the same predicament I was in now. Exhausted, while Charlie was raring to go.

“Ok, baby, let’s get up. Mommy needs to take a quick shower, then we can get dressed.”

Climbing out of bed, I heard a light knock on the door. Walking over, I hesitantly opened the door and saw Jack standing there.

“Morning,” he whispered. “I didn’t want to wakeCharlie.”

“Daddy!”

Charlie crashed into his legs, wrapping her arms around him.

I huffed. “That is unlikely to happen. I don’t think I have ever woken up before Charlie,” I said, laughing and welcoming Jack into our room.

“Could you help her get dressed while I take a shower?”

Jack’s head snapped up to look at me.

“Um, am I allowed to do that?”

I tilted my head and saw the look of apprehension that filled his expression.

“Of course you’re allowed, Jack. Why wouldn’t you be?”

Did he think I wouldn’t let him help with every aspect of raising his daughter?

“Um, well…” he looked at Charlie, then back at me and whispered, “…because she’s a girl. Doesn’t she need privacy?”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. He was so sincere. Then, I immediately sobered. This was my fault. He had missed so much.

Tears gathered in my eyes as I reassured him, “You are her father, Jack. If you had been there when she was born,” I took a deep breath, and continued, “If you had been there when she was born, you would have helped change diapers and given her baths, and you wouldn’t even question if you could help her get dressed. That is my fault. I’m so sorry, Jack.”

The tears fell, and Jack rushed over to wrap me in his arms.

“Sammy, forgive yourself. I have,” he assured me, kissing my head. “You go take a shower; I’ve got this.” He tried to sound confident. “Where are her clothes?”

“Oh my God.” I rubbed my hands over my face. “I don’t have any clothes for her. There was only one pair of pajamas and one outfit in her bag. We haven’t been back to the house to get any of her things!”

I dropped to sit on the end of the bed.

Charlie was supposed to come first. Always. Yet, I had only been thinking about myself and my problems for the last few days. What mother does that? I looked at my daughter, whosat on the bed watching cartoons on a tablet. A tablet I didn’t recognize.

“Hey.” Jack kneeled in front of me. “Um, I have some clothes for her.”

“You do?” I asked, swinging back around to focus on Jack.

“Yea, when we were shopping the other day, we… uh… went a little crazy,” he said sheepishly.

I looked back at my daughter once more.

“Is that where the tablet came from?” I asked him.

“Let me go grab her clothes. Hey, Shortcake, you want to come pick out something to wear?” he asked Charlie, holding out his hand to her.

She scrambled off the bed, the tablet forgotten, and put her hand in his. The two of them rushed out of the room quickly, Jack avoiding my question completely.

Despite meeting for the first time a few days ago, they were already as thick as thieves. It was becoming clear that the two of them would keep me on my toes.

---