"Barbie!" Olivia stifles a laugh as Noah butchers the attorney's name as he steps into the apartment.
"Hey there buddy." He waves at the toddler stepping into the room, places his briefcase onto the table and gives Olivia a quick kiss.
"Did you have a ni…"
"Barbie!"
"Not now honey." She looks down at Noah as stood between them looking pulling on both the pant leg of his.
"I was asking did you two have a ni.."
"Story! I want a story!"
"Noah honey not now. Go play with your legos." Olivia points towards the play area of the living room. He doesn't move.
"He seems in rare form."
"He's been trying my patience. But I get enough practice with you Barba so that I can handle it."
"Ha havery funny."
"Story!" Noah screams on top of his lungs. Olivia watches in amazement as Barba picks him up and holds him up so they are able to meet eye to eye.
"Noah your mommy said not now. Now be a good boy and do as you're told." He starts to lower him back down when he violently shakes his head back and forth.
"Do you want to go to bed early young man?" Olivia uses her best don't mess with mom voice.
"Story. Tell me a story Barbie."
"Fine you want a story?' Noah nods excitedly. 'Alright once there was a village of people where it rained rocks and one day a bunch of rocks fell and the people of the village couldn't get to safety and died. The end." Barba puts Noah back down who looks up again at him with a hint of confusion before shrugging and running towards the legos.
"What the hell was that?!" Olivia hisses.
"A story he wanted a story."
"Rocks fall? Everyone dies?!"
"He seemed to have liked it."
"You weren't kidding when you said you weren't good with kids."
"Liv I'm sorry I…"
"But I love that you're trying.' She leans in to give him another kiss. 'But two things. Next time go with a happily ever after ending. Second don't award his bad behavior by giving into him."
"It got him to stop."
"Yes I am aware of that. Now he'll think if he pushes your buttons hard enough he'll get what he wants eventually."
"I examined the risks versus the reward. It was the right call." Olivia bursts out in laughter.
"God once a lawyer always a lawyer!"