I concentrate on my ice cream as mommy and daddy sit together eating their lunch. I have to hold the tub steady with my left hand whilst I use my right to spoon it into my mouth, it feels so awkward doing it this way as I usually use my left hand.

'I feel so guilty.' Daddy says to mommy.

'Why?' mommy asks.

'Because I gave him a telling off last night and then he was too terrified to say anything. He thought everyone was so angry with him and the poor little man hardly ate anything. Even this morning he didn't tell me, it was only because he couldn't cut up his pancakes that he had to say that it hurt. I got a shock when I saw the bruise.'

'You should have called me.' Mommy says.

'Sue, you would have dashed to the hospital and we'd have both been hanging around. Matty was fine. He even took some medicine for Grace. I thought he might have played up if you'd been there. You know what he's like, he'd have ended up clinging to you. Once he's finished his ice cream I'll take him home and we'll leave you to get on with your work. What time do you think you'll be finished by?' Daddy asks.

'I'm aiming to be out of the door by five. Are the Greys still coming over?' she asks.

'If you want them to.' Daddy says and mommy nods. 'I said I'd order from the Italian restaurant, are you happy with that?'

'Of course I am. I'm sure Grace will want to check on Matty.'

'What should I do food wise for him?' daddy asks.

'He tried my lasagne yesterday and liked it, he won't eat it all but we can put the rest in the fridge for tomorrow.' Mommy says. 'I don't mind what you order for me, I'll fit in with everyone else.'

'OK. Can we have a family day out tomorrow? I feel we need some time together, just the three of us.' Daddy says.

'Sure, where were you thinking?' mommy asks.

'Somewhere for the little man, Woodland Park….' Daddy says as mommy interrupts him.

'Don't say the rest, he'll get over excited, but yes we'll go there.' Mommy says looking at me. I smile at her and she smiles back.

'I nearly finished mommy.' I say. 'Can you come home with me and daddy?'

'No darling, I'll stay here for a few hours and finish my work and then we can go out tomorrow.' Mommy says. 'You and daddy will have fun this afternoon.'

'But mommy, we can't go swimming cos I can't get this wet.' I say waving the blue cast about. I finish the ice cream and climb down from the chair and make my way over to the sofa. Mommy picks me up and sits me on her knee. I hug her tightly and kiss her cheek. 'I miss you mommy.'

'I know darling, mommy misses you too but it's not for long.' Mommy says.

'Come on little man.' Daddy says standing up and taking me from mommy. 'Let's go before you make mommy feel any more guilt. We'll catch you later baby, call me as you're leaving.' Daddy kisses her lips and she hugs us both.

'Bye bye mommy, I love you.' I say.

'I love you too Matty boy, have fun you guys and thanks for lunch.' Mommy says and then daddy takes me from her office back to the car. Daddy fastens me in and then starts to drive home.

'Daddy, why did you call mommy 'baby', she isn't one is she?' I ask.

'No little man, it's just a word that a man calls a lady when he loves her.' Daddy says and he looks back at me and smiles.

'Eyes on the road daddy. Do you love mommy lots?' I ask.

'Yes, I do.' He says.

'I do too daddy.'

'Good, shall we bake mommy a cake this afternoon to show her how much we love her.'

'Yes, yes, yes. Can we bake a chocolate cake?' I ask excitedly. 'We went shopping at the supermarket two days ago so we have lots of food in the cupboards.'

'OK darling. We'll listen to the radio for the rest of the drive and you can have some quiet time and then we'll make cake. How does that sound?' daddy asks.

'That sounds like the best idea.' I say. 'I is tired daddy.'

'OK, even after your big sleep last night.' He says and I nod at him as he looks at me in his rear view mirror. 'That's because you didn't sleep for mommy for five sleeps.'

'I is sorry daddy, I wasn't tired then. I close my eyes to rest them now so that I can help you with cake.' I say as I look around for my backpack. 'Daddy, I left my bag on mommy's chair. Fred was in there.'

'Don't worry, when we get home we'll call mommy and she can bring Fred home with her, he will look after her this afternoon whilst she's working alone. You don't need him because you have me.' Daddy says and I accept his explanation and close my eyes.

When I wake I am on the sofa at the edge of the kitchen diner and daddy has covered me in a duvet. I can smell that daddy has been baking and he's still doing it as the mixer whirrs into action.

'Hey little man.' Daddy says as he switches off the noise.

'Hi daddy, I wanted to bake with you.' I say.

'I know little man. I've only made a couple of cakes but I haven't done the chocolate one yet. I was waiting until you woke up.' He says gently.

'Oh goody, the chocolate one is my favourite.' I say. 'Did you make the ones with jelly and cream?'

'Yes, it's called a Victoria sandwich and you know I call it jam.' Daddy says.

'I not like that cake and mommy calls it jelly.' I say. 'Daddy I need the bathroom but I not sure how I can wash my handies.'

'I'll come and help you and then we'd better get on with this chocolate cake. I'll have to get the kitchen tidied before mommy comes home and then we need to order food for later, can you help me pick some things from the menu?' daddy asks.

'Sure daddy.' I say. After going to the bathroom we get to work on the cake. 'I crack eggs like you with one hand daddy.' I say picking up an egg.

'No Matty, it's not that easy.' Daddy says as I hit the egg on the side of the bowl. 'I said no.' daddy says loudly. I look at the mess in my hand and then at daddy with my wide eyes. My bottom lip wobbles. I put my head down as a tear trickles down my cheek. I don't want him to see me cry. I climb down from the step I'm stood on to help him. I wipe my hand down my t-shirt and go and sit on the sofa. I look at him warily. 'Hey little man, I thought you were helping me.'

'I is sorry daddy. I made a mess and you shouted.' I say.

'I just spoke loudly because you didn't listen. You have to do as you're told in the kitchen, we don't want any accidents.' He says more gently this time. 'Come on, I can't make this cake without you.'

'OK, but I not like you speaking loudly.' I say.

'Well listen to me first time and then I won't need to speak loudly.' He says. 'Let me help you back onto the step and then you can start mixing.'

'I is good at mixing daddy.' I say taking the spoon off him. I can't hold it in my left and my right arm won't mix it the same. I'm getting frustrated. 'Daddy it's not working with this hand. I can't do it.'

'Here, use the mixer. I'll hold your hand as well because we need to keep it steady and I don't want the cake mix all over the kitchen.' He says smiling at me. 'I know you, you'll have it on max speed and before I can turn it off they'll be no mixture left in the bowl.' He stands behind me, one hand holding the bowl and the other on mine as we use the mixer.

'All done daddy, shall we bake it now?'

'Yes, I'll put it in the tins. Do you want to lick the spoon?' he asks.

'Yes daddy.' I say jumping up and down and almost falling off the step.

'Careful.' He says steadying me. 'Here, take the spoon.' I lick the chocolate mixture and am so happy, this is one of my favourite things. 'Right little man, can I make you a quick snack? You've hardly eaten all day.'

'I has had pancakes, ice cream and chocolate cake mix daddy.' I say.

'Exactly, what sort of father am I to just let you eat that. You need to eat something that's a bit more healthy.' He says.

'OK, I have cucumber, tomatoes and grapes.' I say. 'And then I play outside while the cake cooks.' I help daddy get the items from the fridge and eat quickly so that I can be outside. 'Daddy, is Christian coming to play soon?'

'Later, he'll be at kickboxing now.' Daddy says.

'But daddy he did that yesterday and I want him to play now.' I demand.

'Well you'll have to wait, he was doing a competition today.'

'Oh will he bring a trophy home again. I going to do kickboxing and win trophies and I going to play piano and I going to…..'

'You're going to start eating properly and sleeping and being a good boy before you do anything else.' Daddy says.

'I try to be good daddy but things that mommy doesn't like just happen. I not know that she not like baby bird in her bag.' I say and daddy smiles at me.

'Don't do it again.' He says and opens the French doors for me to go outside. 'Stay on the patio and decking, no further. I'm just going to get the phone to call the restaurant.'

'Ok daddy.' I say finding my trike and riding it round. Luckily I can still steer with one hand. I ride round and round the table until I'm bored, I can see daddy in the kitchen, he must be checking the cakes. I ride onto the grass but he must have been watching me.

'Matthew.' He shouts and I jump almost toppling off the trike. I turn and look at him. 'What did I say to you?' I gulp, he's angry with me.

'I is sorry daddy. I forgot.' I say.

'Go and sit on the bottom stair while you have a think about it.' He shouts. I climb off the trike pushing it over in a temper. 'Pick it up.' I look at him. 'Now.' I pick it up and manage to wheel it back to the patio and then head inside and sit on the bottom stair. Mommy calls it 'the naughty step' and I don't like sitting here. I sit staring at the floor, then the front door and then the floor again. I wave my blue left arm around pretending it's a plane. Daddy walks past me into his study, I put my head down as he does. I hear the phone ring and he answers. I can't hear the first part of his conversation but then he starts shouting at whoever is on the other end. 'Shit, how did I miss the fucker?' 'Can you get it stopped before tomorrow?' 'Get the fucking legal team and PR team to sort this fucking mess out. I don't want anything in the papers. I'll talk to Mr Grey and get something drawn up so that nothing appears in future.' I don't hear the rest of the conversation, I go into the living room and hide behind the sofa with my hands over my ears.

I'm not sure how long I've been hiding here. I hear daddy call. 'Matty boy, where are you?' 'Come on little man. Tell daddy where you are, I'm not angry with you.' I must have made a slight sound because he finds me and picks me up to cuddle me. 'I'm sorry little man, I shouldn't have shouted.' I cry into his shoulder and he rocks me to comfort me. 'Oh Matty, I'm sorry.' He mutters, kissing the top of my head.

'I is frightened when you shout daddy, it scares me.' I say quietly. 'I didn't mean to go on the grass, it just happened. I is sorry.'

'You do know why we only say the patio and deck don't you?' daddy says gently. I shake my head at him. 'Because once you're on the grass you forget where you are and before you know it you'll be down by the lake and you know you're only allowed down there with a grown up.'

'Yes daddy, or Elliot or Christian.' I mutter.

'Yes that's fine as well, but you have to behave for them otherwise they won't want you hanging around with them.'

'OK daddy.' I say.

'Right, let's go and try and shower you without getting your cast wet. Mommy will be home in an hour and the Greys will be round shortly after that. I've ordered you some lasagne for dinner, it's what mommy had yesterday.' Daddy says as he carries me up the stairs.

'That's OK daddy, I liked that. Can we go in your bathroom? I like your shower.' I ask.

'Yes, here let me help you with your clothes and then we need to put this bag over your arm.' Daddy says.

'I not wearing a garbage bag daddy.' I say giggling.

'It will keep your cast dry tonight and then we'll see if we can get something better to cover it.'daddy says gently. 'OK, lets get you in the shower.'

'Daddy, can you turn it on first and let it warm up. It was too cold yesterday to start with and I not like it cold.' I say and he grins at me and turns it on. 'Mommy made me stand under it cold cos she was cross. Daddy you not tell mommy I was naughty today. I don't want her to look at me like this.' I pull a face with narrowed eyes and thin lips. Daddy bursts out laughing.

'You are funny. Will you be good at dinner tonight?' he says and I nod as I walk in the shower. He rinses and soaps me down and then dries me. We head downstairs just as mommy walks through the door. I run to her and she picks me up and hugs me.

'You smell nice Matty boy and have you been baking with daddy?'

'Yes, we made lots and I just had a shower. Daddy put my arm in a garbage bag.' I say as she kisses the top of my head.

'Did you finish baby?' daddy asks mommy giving her a hug and kissing her before taking me in his arms.

'Yes all done for this month. We can have a family day tomorrow.' Mommy says happily. We walk into the living room and daddy puts me on the floor near my legos and cars. I sit and play with them whilst mommy sits on daddy's knee on the sofa.

'Has Matty been good for you?' mommy asks looking fondly at me.

'Hmmm, I scared him when I shouted earlier. I found him behind the sofa with his hands over his ears.' Daddy says. Mommy looks at him questionably. 'I told him to sit on the naughty step and then went in my study. I ended up shouting at Dan from work, I'll have to call and apologise soon. Someone from the Seattle Times took mine and Matty's photo this morning as we left the hospital. I was so angry, I never even noticed the paparazzi, I was too preoccupied with making sure Matty was OK. I'm going to talk to Carrick and see if something can be drawn up to keep him out of the papers, I don't mind if it's me and the music business and if we attend a function then they can have a photo of the two of us but I'd rather keep him out of the spotlight. He's only just turned three, he's going to have enough pressure in his life with just being our son and he doesn't need his photo plastered over the front of every paper.'

'I agree, hopefully Carrick can sort something. Do you think we'll be able to have a quiet family day out without being harassed?' Mommy asks.

'Yes we'll go early before it gets busy and then we can either come home and spend time in the garden or drive up to Elliot Bay and the boat. We'll see how we feel.' Daddy says. 'Do you want to go and shower, the Greys will be here in thirty minutes and the food in an hour or so.'

'OK, what did Matty do to warrant the naughty step? I don't remember the last time I made him sit there.' Mommy says. Daddy looks at me and I look back with my wide scared eyes. He kisses her ear and whispers something to her and she smiles at him before coming to me and kissing my head again. 'Do you want to come with mommy and play with your power rangers upstairs whilst daddy does some work in his study.' Mommy asks.

'Yes mommy. Can I help you get ready for dinner when you have showered? I can paint your nails, Mia showed me.' I say smiling at her.

'Thanks baby, I'll go and phone Dan.' Daddy says giving mommy another kiss. He kisses me and says 'Be good for mommy little man.'

'I will daddy. When I grows up and is as big as you daddy I is going to marry mommy cos I love her.' I say and mommy and daddy both smile at me.