Six Weeks Later
Lucas
Raising a highly intelligent child was rewarding as well as exhausting. Scarlett demanded a lot of our attention and constantly needed to be mentally stimulated. She was already saying more words at a year old than the average child.
I was sitting behind my desk when my office door opened, and Jenna walked in, holding Scarlett.
“What a nice surprise.” I grinned as I got up, kissed Jenna, and took my daughter from her arms.
“Hi, princess.” I tickled her.
“Daddy.” She smiled.
“What are you doing here, babe?”
“I need you to watch her. The babysitter called, and she has the flu. My mom has an appointment of her own, and I have my doctor’s appointment.”
“I have a meeting in fifteen minutes.”
“And? Do you want me to cancel my doctor’s appointment and not get a refill on my birth control pills?”
“You know what? I’ll just bring her to my meeting.”
“Good idea.” She smiled. “I love you. Just bring her home with you,” she said as she hooked the diaper bag over my shoulder, kissed Scarlett and me, and walked out.
“Wait! You’re not coming back to pick her up?”
“I have some errands to run. I love you!” she shouted as she walked down the hallway.
I looked at Scarlett, who had successfully managed to untie my tie.
“Looks like you’re spending the rest of the day with daddy.” I kissed her head.
“Daddy.” She smiled. “Juice.”
I left the office a couple of hours early because I wasn’t getting any work done. Scarlett wanted nothing to do with any of my staff, and she only wanted me. When I arrived home, I noticed Jenna wasn’t back yet.
“Play with your blocks, princess,” I said as I set Scarlett on the floor.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I called Jenna.
“Hello.”
“Hey, babe. I’m home with Scarlett. Are you on your way?”
“Yeah. I’ll be home soon.”
“Great. I miss you, and I love you.”
“I miss and love you too. See you soon.”
“Book. Book,” Scarlett said as she tugged on my pant leg while holding a book in her other hand.
After picking her up, I took her to the couch and read to her. About thirty minutes later, I heard the elevator ding.
“Mommy’s home, princess.”
Walking over to the elevator, Jenna stepped out, gave me a kiss, and took Scarlett.