Ann was reading in the living room while Emma played on the floor with her stuffed animals. Ann liked to look over at her little girl babbling as she pushed the animals around. But then she made a distressed noise which caused Ann to look up from her book.
Emma had spat out her pacifier and was staring at the TV with rapt attention. Ann smiled as she realized a commercial for Ryland Transport was on. "Dada," Emma stated as Harris came on the screen. She pointed at the screen and turned to her mother. "Dada?'
The books all said Emma didn't know what she was actually saying but something in Ann said the opposite. The girl certainly knew who her parents were. And She knew she got praise whens she called them by the right names. "That is Dada," Ann grinned. "Dada's on the TV, baby."
Emma turned back to the TV, pressing her hands against it. "Dada," she called. "Dada, dada, dada." But she became upset when the picture of Harris disappeared. "Dada," she whined. The show switched back to Dynasty and Emma began to wail. "Dada!"
"Oh, come here," Ann crooned, sweeping her daughter into her arms. "It's okay sweetie. Don't cry, honey. Mama's right here. And Daddy's going to be home soon enough." She picked up Emma's pacifier and put it in her mouth. The sucking soon calmed Emma to sniffles. "That's my girl. No need for tears, right, baby?"
Soon enough Emma calmed and fell asleep so Ann put her down for her afternoon nap. She was just picking her girl out of her crib when the door opened. "You're home early," she commented as Harris entered.
"Missed my girls too much," he replied. "Figured I could do the rest of my work form home. Did you have a good day."
Ann laughed as Emma began to reach for her father. She passed the little girl off with a grin. "We saw a commercial for the company on TV today. Emma recognized you."
"Did she?" Harris asked delightedly.
"She did. She kept touching the screen and saying 'dada'. But she got very upset when you wouldn't pay attention to her.'
Harris turned his attention to the girl in his arms. "Did my little girl miss her daddy?" he crooned. "I missed you too, baby. But I"m better than anything on TV right?" Emma sucked on her pacifier and tugged at his collar.
"I think that's a yes," Ann said. "And I definitely agree with her."