Twenty five: Without daddy
Plot: Four year old Bobby Lee is confused as to why his daddy is gone after only talking to him the night before which later makes him scared to take a nap because in his mind if he goes to sleep then he'll be gone like his daddy.
"Daddy!" Four year old Bobby Lee cheered with a smile, hugging his daddy close.
"Bobby Lee! My little man!" Richard grinned, seeing a stuffed lamb in his son's arms. "I see you have Lamb-Lamb!"
"He hasn't put her down all day," Florence grinned, kissing Bobby lee's cheek.
"I love Lamb-Lamb!" Bobby Lee giggled.
"And we all love you," Richard smiled.
"Daddy remember tomorrow!" Bobby Lee giggled again, clapping his hands excitedly.
"Tomorrow?" Richard asked, trying his best to smile.
"Yeah! You said you're were going to teach me how to fish like a big boy!" Bobby Lee grinned, smiling from ear to ear.
"I think you'll have to change those plans with Daddy sweetheart," Florence smiled softly, patting his head.
"Why?" Bobby Lee frowned, not understanding. "I bad boy?"
"No, buddy, you're not a bad boy, but I just need a day to rest," Richard murmured. Florence smiled beside him. Richard had been asked to do double shifts at work lately, and for a few days, he'd been too worn out to play. Bobby Lee understood, and he always tried to let him rest, but he just wanted a little time with daddy.
"Why don't you and Lamb-Lamb go play, sweetheart?" Florence suggested. "I'll be up to check on you in a little bit."
"Okay," Bobby Lee agreed.
"Richard, I hate seeing you risk everything including your health for us!" Florence yelled, careful not to frighten Bobby Lee even though he was safe and sound in his room.
"Just a few more weeks dearest. Then I'll get Bobby Lee the greatest life a boy can have," Richard assured her with a grin.
"If you're sure," Florence sighed. She tried to find ways for Bobby Lee to help him, but Richard always said no. Florence would argue that his health came first, but Richard would keep pushing himself. "But you know I can find some way to help you too."
Richard kissed her hand. "I know."
"Bobby Lee kept looking at the little boys and their dads during our trip to the playground today," Florence sighed again, taking a deep breath. "I've never seen him stare at something for that long."
"He wouldn't even go in the sandbox?" Richard asked in surprise. "That's his favorite place to play next to the slide!"
"I know," Florence looked toward Bobby Lee's room. "It's been hard on him too. He wants to help, but you know he's too young for a guard position, or even a junior guard position. He says 'I help Daddy please?'"
"We taught him well," Richard smiled. "He wants to help everyone he meets."
"Mommy can I say night night to Daddy?" Bobby Lee asked, dragging Lamb-Lamb on the ground. "Please?"
"Of course buddy," Richard grinned, stroking his hair before trying his best not to laugh. "And you dressed yourself like a big boy!"
"Night-night, Daddy," Bobby Lee smiled as he hugged him. "I love you!"
"I love you too, Bobby Lee," Richard smiled, "Don't ever forget that."
"I won't," Bobby Lee smiled as he let go.
"He loves you Rich. I just wished you saw that clearly," Florence sighed before sensing that something was wrong. "Richard?"
"Maybe I should've had Robert helped me like you wanted," Richard breathed, smiling softly at his wife. "I'll be better in the morning. I promise."
"Daddy keeps his prom rose. He always does," Bobby Lee whispered to Lamb-Lamb with a smile. "He's just going night night."
He hugged his favorite toy in an attempt in assuring himself before going into his room.
Sometimes Richard did get sick and he was better afterwards which the four year old tried to remind himself before falling asleep.
It was a few hours later that Bobby Lee woke up. As he made his way to the potty, he heard a strange sound. It sounded like his mommy, and she sounded sad. He quickly did his business and knocked on the door. "Mommy?" he called softly.
"Oh sweetheart. It's you," Florence grinned softly, opening the door.
"Why you sad?" Bobby Lee asked with a frown. "Daddy's just sick!"
"Why don't we go to the living room and talk, sweetheart? And bring Lamb-Lamb with you," Florence murmured.
Bobby Lee sat down with Lamb-Lamb, and Florence next to him. "Mommy, what's wrong?"
Florence sighed. She was so nervous about what she had to say, and she didn't know how Bobby Lee would react, but she knew that the best thing to do was to just say it.
"Honey remember how Daddy was last night-" Florence began with a faint smile.
"But he's better!" Bobby Lee interrupted with a giggle. "Now he can teach me to fish like a big boy!"
"I know you like fishies and Daddy would love to go get fishies with you," Florence explained, nearly in tears.
"He no like fishies no more?" Bobby Lee frowned, hugging Lamb-Lamb close.
"No...baby, it's..." Florence struggled, but she composed herself. "I woke up a few minutes ago, and I had a bad feeling. I turned to your father, and I couldn't get him to wake up."
"Daddy?" Bobby Lee asked.
"He's gone, sweetheart," Florence murmured. "He passed away a little while ago."
"Daddy?" Bobby Lee whimpered.
"I'm sorry sweetie," Florence muttered, taking him in her arms.
"But Daddy only went night night!" Bobby Lee sobbed, throwing Lamb-Lamb to the floor.
"I know you saw him go night night," Florence sniffed, feeling a few tears run door her cheek. "And so did Lamb-Lamb..."
"Daddy wake up! Daddy!" Bobby Lee wailed as Florence picked Lamb-Lamb up again.
"He's gone, baby," Florence murmured as she started rocking him. "But you still have me, and Lamb-Lamb."
"I can't be guard now?" Bobby Lee asked.
"You can still be a guard, sweetheart," Florence murmured. "We'll have to find a new person to teach you when you're older, but you can do anything you put your mind to."
"I can't fish no more?" Bobby Lee asked.
"You and I can go fishing," Florence suggested. "Daddy took me fishing and taught me how to do it."
"It won't be the same," Bobby Lee sniffed, rubbing his nose on her blouse. "I won't be a big boy."
"Yes you will," Florence assured him with a kiss on the cheek. "There'll be some grown ups taking Daddy in a little while and we'll play together while they're getting Daddy okay?"
"Okay," Bobby Lee muttered, though a little confused.
Why did his daddy go night night and make his mommy sad? Why couldn't he go fishing with him like his daddy promised they would do?
So many thoughts were starting to run through his mind, but there was one thing that kept popping up. What if, the next time he went night-night, he didn't wake up? He didn't want to make his mommy sad.
She was already sad enough and he didn't like it. Making up his mind, he decided not to nap when that hour were to come.
He normally liked naps but after what happened to his daddy, he was too scared to sleep.
"Mrs. Johnson can we speak to you?" A doctor asked who had come into the house long before Bobby Lee was awake. "Oh you have a son?"
"Yes. This is my son Robert," Florence sniffed, taking Bobby Lee in her arms. "We're both devastated about Richard."
"What happened to Daddy? Why he go?" Bobby Lee sniffed, hugging Lamb-Lamb. "Why couldn't he stay!?"
"Well, son, your daddy's been sick with a virus that makes people sleepier every day," the doctor started, "It takes more and more of their strength and makes them weaker. At the end, they pass away as they sleep. We don't know how to cure it yet, but we've been working on it for years."
"So it wasn't just the flu like he said?" Florence asked.
"That's what we thought it was at first, since the first signs and symptoms are similar to the flu," the doctor explained.
"Then why couldn't you help Daddy before!" Bobby Lee yelled, kicking the doctor as best as he could without shoes before running to his mommy and daddy's room in tears.
Smelling Richard's scent on the pillows to the right side of the room, he took one and hugged it.
He looked up when he heard his mommy's voice in the doorway. "Robert, sweetheart, come here."
"No! They didn't help Daddy!" Bobby Lee shouted as Florence took him in her arms.
"Sweetheart, they did all they could," Florence murmured. "The doctor told me that this virus has no known cure. But they are working on it. Maybe one day a cure will be found."
"Why couldn't they find it now?" Bobby Lee asked.
"That's a good question," Florence murmured.
"Mommy, I like Daddy's scent," Bobby Lee muttered, hugging the pillow he found. "Can I keep it?"
"For nap time?" Florence asked with a smile.
"No! I don't wanna nap!" Bobby Lee screamed with tears falling down his cheeks.
"Why not?" Florence asked.
"What if I go night-night, I won't wake up?" Bobby Lee asked.
"What do you mean? Of course you'll wake up," Florence assured him.
"Daddy didn't!" Bobby Lee sniffled.
Now she understood why he had kicked the doctor, why he ran off in tears.
Her little boy was not only upset by what happened but terrified. An emotion Florence thought he would never use since he was always laughing and happy and being her silly little guy.
She took his shaking body in her lap, allowing Bobby Lee to cry as long as he wanted.
"You think that if you take a nap you won't wake up?" Florence asked, stroking his hair. "Oh, sweetheart, that won't happen. Daddy's been sick, and the virus is why he passed away. You're a perfectly healthy little boy, so you don't have anything to worry about."
"But what if I get sick?" Bobby Lee asked. "What if what made Daddy sick makes me sick?"
"Honey, Daddy worked too much. I asked him and fought him for you to help him once you could walk and talk but he refused," Florence explained, giving him Lamb-Lamb. "When you get big, I'm making sure that you don't work as hard. And if you're a daddy one day, I want you to play with your children, do whatever with them."
"A daddy?" Bobby Lee frowned before brightening a little. "Helen can be the mommy."
"Oh? Where did you meet her?" Florence asked with a laugh.
"I met her at school! She's a nice girl," Bobby Lee smiled.
"You found a friend at school? That's wonderful!" Florence smiled. "Maybe we can invite her and her parents here so we can all get to know each other."
"Yeah!" Bobby Lee agreed.
"And maybe, Florence added to herself, "her parents could help me as well. Her father could teach Bobby Lee everything he needs to know about being a guard, and be a positive male role model for him. And besides, I'm going to need some more money now; maybe they could help me find a job."
"Mommy?" Bobby Lee asked.
Florence smiled. "Just lost in thought, sweetheart. Why don't we contact Helen and her family, and have them get together with us?"
"Okay!" Bobby Lee smiled.
"Maybe say for lunch before nap time?" Florence suggested with a smile.
"No nap!" Bobby Lee yelled, crossing his arms. "And no doctor!"
"Is that what's gotten you so upset?" Florence asked, putting him down.
"I prom rose Helen she see Daddy. Now she can't," Bobby Lee sniffed, wiping his nose. "She'll just see you."
"It's going to be all right, sweetheart," Florence assured him. "We'll explain everything to them. And about your nap...what if I take a nap with you?"
Bobby Lee looked doubtful, but he nodded. "Okay...you prom rose you'll wake up?"
"I promise, sweetheart," Florence smiled.
Bobby Lee accepted the answer, gathering his toys as Florence explained to the men that had just come to see her that they'll be having company and didn't wish to be disturbed while her husband's body was being taken away.
"Bobby Lee!" Helen giggled about a little while after, grinning from ear to ear. "Where's your daddy?"
Bobby Lee started to tear up a little, dropping the toys he had gathered from his room to the ground. He didn't want her to ask that question. Not when his heart was still hurting from earlier.
"We'll explain in a little bit, sweetheart," Florence promised. "Now, why don't you and Bobby Lee go play together while I talk with your parents?"
"Okay," Helen smiled, and she and Bobby Lee went off together.
"Richard passed, didn't he? I know he'd been sick for a few days, but I didn't think it was that bad," Lydia asked, "I know that look, Florence. My sister's husband passed away last year, and she's finally starting to move on."
"Yes," Florence murmured, "Early this morning. I'm trying to think of how I can support myself and Robert now."
"I think I know how you can help," Edward offered with a smile. "I understand that you're going through a lot right now but I think you'll like what I'm offering."
"If it's anything for a single mom of an energetic four year old, I'll like to see it," Florence smiled a little. "Robert well he's been quiet all morning. We've talked about Richard but he's just not used to anything yet."
"I understand," Edward smiled, "But how would you like a job as a royal clothing maker up at the castle?"
"At the castle?" Florence gasped. "Why? What's going on at the castle?"
"Well, I heard King Roland and Queen Melinda saying that there are going to be more events coming up, more parties and such, and new outfits are needed," Edward explained. "The royal dressmaker is getting swamped with orders, and she could use some extra help."
"In that case, I'd love to work for them!" Florence smiled. "Bobby Lee can watch the guards training, and when he's old enough, he can train to be a junior guard along with them, like he always wanted!"
"And meet the prince and princess?" Helen asked with a smile, dragging her doll as Bobby Lee dragged Lamb-Lamb.
"Maybe," Florence smirked, taking Bobby Lee in her arms. "Robert how would you like Mommy to work at a castle?"
"Castle?" Bobby Lee asked before he frowned. "Do I have to wear yucky grown up clothes all the time?"
"Just for the first meeting; you want to make a good first impression on the royal family," Florence assured him.
"Okay," Bobby Lee nodded in agreement.
He frowned before Florence stroked his hair, hugging him close.
"I know Daddy won't be here to see this but think of the opportunity for us! I mean you can tell your class that your mommy is going to work for royalty!" Florence laughed, throwing him in the air.
"Did Mr. Johnson go bye bye?" Helen frowned, not understanding.
"Yes, sweetheart," Florence looked a little sad now, "This morning. But this news is a wonderful opportunity!"
"It is," Lydia agreed.