It was the worst timing possible. Addy had been up all night vomiting; she had an ear infection and Lola had written her a script for some anti-biotics which she had reacted badly to. Alfie had changed the sheets on his bed three times by the time the sun started to come up. "I sick Daddy." She moaned, standing naked and shivering in the bathroom after he stripped her off and tossed aside her third set of pyjamas.
"I know Addy."
"You stay here."
"I can't Darlin'." He had an Eye specialist booked in today and they had one shot at sedating the elephant and Addy being sick all night was the last thing he needed. "But I will be home as soon as I can. Lola Bear is going to look after you, she's a Doctor." He was dropping her off at Lola's on the way into work and would try and get back once the elephant was up on her feet again. Hopefully he'd be gone a few hours at most.
He called Quinn as soon as he got Addy dressed. Cramming his phone in between his ear and his shoulder he was packing a bag for her with as many clothes as he could get his hands on. Lola had told him to stop the medication and she should hopefully stop vomiting quite quickly after that. He hadn't had a spew for an hour but that hadn't instilled him with any confidence for the car trip. "You sound busy?"
"Busy and tired." He muttered, ushering Addy down the stairs. She was whining that she didn't want to go and wanted to come to work with Daddy. Any other day he would have called out sick or taken her with him but it just wasn't an option today. He did think of dropping her off with Quinn but her sister was arriving today and he didn't want to get off on the wrong foot. "Addy's been spewing all night."
"My poor baby, is she okay?"
"Yeah, I think so. Lola thinks it's the anti-biotics."
"Are you going to work?"
"Yeah, I need to, for a few hours at least, I've got the eye specialist coming. Addy's not happy as you can hear."
"Do you want to drop her off here?"
"No, Baby you've got your sister coming today. You don't this bucket of misery."
"I not misery Daddy, I sick." Addy protested as he tried to get her in the car.
"I know Addy." He buckled her in and gave her a towel and a bucket. "Spew in this if you need too." He had little faith in her using either but he had to try. It wouldn't be the first time she had spewed in the car.
"Alfie, I don't mind."
"It's okay, Lola is home today. I'd rather she spew all over Lola than your sister. Not the best first impression."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Baby. Have a nice day with Isla, I'll see you later."
"Don't worry about coming over, stay with Addy. We will catch up on the weekend."
"I'll see how she goes. Don't you want me to meet Isla?" Quinn was a little torn, she was pretty sure Isla wouldn't be all that welcoming to Alfie but she did want him to meet her sister because at the end of the day Isla was her only sibling.
"Of course I do. Addy comes first though. She's sick."
"I sick Quinn." Addy heard her name as Alfie started the car and it picked up the call through Bluetooth.
"I know sweetheart, that makes me sad. Is Daddy taking good care of you?"
"I spewed on Daddy in bed. Ed got sick too. He's in the wash." The news that Ed needed a wash went down like a lead balloon.
The meltdown had been epic; she howled at the visual of Ed spinning around in the washing machine, banging on the door pitifully but he was dripping in spew and he wasn't letting her hang onto it. She had her giraffe now, and it wasn't the same and she had told him that in no uncertain terms, even throwing the giraffe at him. Alfie just picked it up and handed it back to her. Addy had asked for Alfie's 'raffe but he refused. She wasn't spewing on that. They'd had an ugly half hour; she was wailing like a stuck pig and Pops had locked himself in his room.
Addy was a little more perky now but that just gave him a false sense of security. It could go south very quickly. "Daddy go to work I'm sad."
She certainly knew how to pile on the guilt. Being a single parent was challenging. It was times like this he found the hardest. He didn't want to leave Addy today; he would have spent all day cuddling up to her on the couch watching shitty TV shows if it made her feel better. He hated that she was sick, the only comfort he had was that she hadn't gone back to calling him Alfie or asking for her Mum. It was the first time she hadn't done that.
Even when she appeared at the side of his bed and woke him up. "Daddy I spew." She whined and had just spewed in her bed and Alfie managed to get up just before she spewed all over his bed. "Sorry Daddy."
"It's okay Darlin'." He took her through to the bathroom for the first time that night, quickly changed his sheets, got her into bed and cleaned up her bed as well. She was whiny and annoyed and hot and neither of them got much sleep. Waking up to her coughing and gagging was unpleasant and he had at least grabbed a few towels but she missed most of them.
Addy had a rough day. They stopped the anti-biotics so her ear infection flared up again and Lola tried to give her something else which she refused to take because it 'made her sick.' The screaming match was epic apparently and freaked Billy out too. Alfie had to talk to her several times before she started taking it and then she sat on the couch holding a bucket 'waiting to spew' all afternoon. Addy was miserable and when she was sick she made sure everyone else was miserable too. Even Sam wanted nothing to do with her.
Quinn wasn't surprised when he called to cancel dinner when he was on his way to pick her. "I'm sorry." He hated disappointing Quinn and although he knew she didn't get along all that well with her sister she was trying to make an effort. From the sound of it, it was always Quinn doing the compromising but he stayed out of it. "Sorry I'm cancelling dinner but Addy's not great."
"It's okay, I am not surprised. Is she getting better?" He had talked to her briefly earlier in the day and told her they were changing her medication.
"Well she seems okay but sat on Lola's couch all day threatening to vomit because of the meds. She didn't but she was almost willing it to happen to prove a point. She's just tired and grumpy and I can't really ask Bug to take care of her tonight. She didn't sleep all day because, according to Addy, sleeping made her spew. So I am assuming she's pretty revolting."
"She needs a good night sleep and lots of cuddles then."
Addy started whining the moment she saw her Dad. She wanted to go home, Billy was annoying her, Sam was looking at her, which was almost worse than Billy's behaviour. Worst of all Ed was trapped and missing her apparently. It was all very tragic. Iris had promised him that she'd got Ed out of the machine and hung him up to dry, even sending Lola a photo to show Addy but it wasn't good enough.
Isla was just listening. Quinn had been disappointed that her boyfriend was bailing on them tonight. "His daughter is sick; he's been up all night with her and I offered to look after her today while he was at work but she was at his sister's. She needs an early night."
"He doesn't let you look after her?"
"Of course he does. Lola's a Paediatrician, she's better off there." Quinn understood why Alfie wanted Lola to look after her particularly if she was having problems with medication. She also appreciated that he didn't want to ruin her day with Isla.
"So he just dumps her there and goes to work? When she's sick?"
"Well no.." Quinn started to get defensive. "What's your problem with Alfie taking care of his daughter tonight?"
"Nothing, you just seem quite low on his list of priorities. I think you deserve better."
"Better? Like what? Like you?" Isla flitted from one boyfriend to another without a care in the world. "I don't see anyone putting you first."
"I put myself first."
"So do I, I understand Alfie, I always have, he was honest and upfront about Adelaide. He is her only parent and he's doing a damn good job. He works hard to care for her, he helps take care of his elderly grandfather and he always takes care of me when I need it. He's sorry he can't make it tonight because Addy is unwell. I wouldn't want him to be away from her either because he would worry about her, he's been away from her for long enough today. Unlike you, he has a job with responsibilities. She's four years old and she's sick, she needs to be with her Dad." Quinn was tired. She didn't want to have to defend Alfie to her sister but she would if she had to.
Isla snorted. "Defensive much?"
Quinn felt her hackles rise. "I will defend Alfie, and Adelaide because I love them and I am happy and one day I really wish you'd just accept that I don't want the life you chose to live, I want this life I have."
"He will always choose her over you."
"He doesn't have to choose either one of us, it's not one or the other. He has a child, big fucking deal. I am not competing with Addy for his attention or his love. I don't need him to choose me over her. I need him to love me, and he does. He also loves his daughter."
"Okay." Isla held up her hands. "There is not point even talking to you right now. I just want to make sure you know what you are letting yourself in for."
"Because you know what this is like?"
"I have been out with guys who've had kids. It gets messy."
"What? Jayden, with the crazy ex who accused you of stealing money from her kid? That kind of messy? Lucky I don't have a crazy ex to deal with then."
"What about his family?"
"What about them? Three sisters, all great, all happily married and two of them have kids themselves, and a sweet old Pops who is the glue that held them together, that they all fuss over and adore."
"His parents?" Quinn only then realised that Isla knew nothing about Alfie.
"Dead. Have been for more than twenty years." Quinn was brutal. "Both killed in a car crash when he was seven years old and they were all bought up by his grandparents. One of which he helps look after to this day, so that he can stay in his home where he raised his two kids and four grandchildren."
"Oh…"
"You wish you had someone who cares about everyone else before himself like Alfie does." Isla just sat and shut her mouth as Quinn's voice quivered. "I am damn lucky to have found someone like him. Is it hard sometimes? Yes it is but I am lucky, damn lucky." She left the room, slammed her bedroom door and tried to calm herself. She knew Isla wouldn't even bother to come after her, she was stupid to think that this was going to be any different from last time, and the time before that.
Quinn said nothing to Alfie when she talked to him later that night. She had gone out for dinner with Isla like planned and neither of them mentioned anything about their argument. They talked about her travels, her plans and their parents. She was spending a few days in Chicago and then heading up to spend a week with them before flying out again.
"How was dinner?" He sounded like she had woken him up.
"Good. Way too healthy for you though. Not enough meat."
"Sounds nice."
"Is Addy asleep?" He had sent her a photo of her happily hugging Ed. 'Rescue mission complete. Huzzah!' Addy looked so happy to have him back and she wasn't surprised to learn that they had both fallen asleep watching TV. Iris had woken him up and he had just taken Addy to bed when Quinn called. "How is she?"
"Much better, just tired now I think. The other meds have kicked in and no nasty side effects so far. I hope not, I really don't want to change my sheets again tonight. She's in my bed."
"I wish I was there." Quinn tried to cover the wobble in her voice. "I miss you."
"Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing, I just really hate Addy being sick and not being there to help. You know, she's kinda wormed her way into my heart."
"Like her smokin' hot Dad?"
"Ha, whatever." Quinn scoffed at him. She could really use a hug from him right about now. Her sister had upset her and rattled her. It wasn't that she didn't trust Alfie's love for her or believe that they were doing really well together and had a future together but she would have liked him to hug her and tell her that he loved her, her sister had made her feel insecure and she hated that she always did that.
He instinctively knew what she needed though and he told her. "Hey, I love you Darlin'. I wish I was there with you right now. Addy and I miss you."
Isla was surprised to hear a knock at the door a little while after her sister left for work two days later, Alfie had spent the day home with Addy yesterday and while she was better she was tired and a bit of a nightmare. Her attitude left a lot to be desired.
Isla was stunned to find Alfie and his daughter on the other side, at least that's who she assumed it was. "Oh Hi. Umm, you just missed Quinn."
"I know, I talked to her already this morning. Addy and I thought we'd come and see if you wanted to have breakfast with us?" While Quinn hadn't said anything he got the sense that all was not well and her sister was giving her a bit of grief.
"Oh, sure." Isla stuttered a little and stood aside to let him in. The little girl looked a little shy but did smile. "You must be Adelaide." Isla bent down and shook her hand. "Quinn has told me all about you. I hope you are feeling better today?"
"Yes I am." She answered politely. Her Dad had reminded her to use her manners before they got here.
Isla straightened up and shook Alfie's hand next. "It's nice to meet you Alfie." It was a little stiff. She was thrown off by his arrival. He was a good-looking guy and she could see what attracted her sister. His smile was easy and warm, and he oozed confidence and she found that a little disconcerting. Alfie had put her on the back foot and it was a position she didn't particularly like.
"Is Quinn here?" Addy tugged on her Daddy's hand.
"No sweetheart, remember Quinn had to go to work."
"Oh, I miss Quinn."
"So do I, we'll see her later, we are going to stay here tonight." Addy cheered as he turned back to Isla. "I'm sorry I bailed on dinner, Addy wasn't well and she's a bit of a nightmare when she's tired and sick."
"I really enjoyed catching up with Quinn."
Exiting the building Alfie told her there was a nice new café just a few blocks walk. "They tell me it's got a lot of good vegetarian food. It's their speciality."
"I'm vegan."
"Yep, they've got that covered too."
Addy was quiet but she skipped along happily holding her Dad's hand while they chatted about her latest trip and where she planned to go next.
Alfie had already told Addy she couldn't have bacon with her breakfast but as per usual she rarely listened to him. "I have eggs and soldiers." Addy decided. "…and…" Alfie just shook his head but it was too late. "…and bacon. I Iove bacon, it's my favourite. It's your favourite too Daddy, isn't it?"
Alfie noticed Isla's slightly pinched looked. He had no issue with anyone eating or not eating meat or even being vegan, each to their own but be dammed if anyone was going to throw shade at him for what he fed his daughter or ate himself.
"No bacon, they don't have bacon here."
"Sausage?"
"Nope. Eggs and soldiers. I will get you some fruit too."
"Oh Alfred, this is not good." Addy sighed somewhat dramatically and Alfie struggled not to laugh.
"Isla?" Addy wiggled up onto her knees when her glass of milk arrived, she'd moved on from her disappointment about not getting bacon pretty quickly, probably quicker than Isla did. Although the milk didn't help either once Isla had ordered her almond milk skim Latte to go with Alfie's black coffee. "Did you sleep in my room? Did you like it?"
"I did."
"We buyed the new bed, didn't we Daddy." Pops had been amused by that and had insisted that he watch his grandson put it together. 'Your Dad was bloody useless; he was scared shitless because he broke your mother's bed tyring to slip one in quickly and I made him help with the new one. Your mother was wigging out and your uncle was as high as a kite on painkillers and started talking about blowjobs.' Alfie had cringed, Addy was asking him what a blow job was, wondering if it was like blowing up a balloon. He just patted her hand and told her that is exactly what it meant. Pops was off on a tangent and it was hard to get him to stop these days. Once he started telling a story you had to hang on to the bitter end and do damage control later.
"We did." He nodded and smiled at Isla who was obviously less than impressed with him. He'd never had to work this hard to get someone to like him and he wasn't sure if he could really be bothered trying.
Alfie was mindful of not letting Addy monopolise the conversation, which she had the tendency to do. He was grateful when her breakfast arrived and she tucked into it with gusto. She hadn't eaten much the past two days and now she was feeling better her appetite had returned. Alfie had ordered her a bowl of blueberries on the side; they were her favourite at the moment and she scoffed them as well.
"She loves her room. She loves it when your parents come up and sleep in her bed. It's funny watching her tidy her room for them and leave them a present on the pillow. It's usually some abstract form of artwork but they either like it or certainly let Addy think they do."
"Your Mum has kittens." Addy informed Isla. "I wanted one but my Pops is too grumpy for a kitten. Have you seen Petal? I called her that."
"Not yet. My Mum does love her cats."
"I wasn't allowed to kiss them, was I Daddy? We don't kiss baby animals, only their Mum's kiss them, but I did cuddle them and they played with me." She sighed. "I miss them. Can we buy Petal a present Daddy? Isla can take it to her, I don't want her to forget me." Addy begged. "Please."
"If you eat all your breakfast." He scooped a couple of mushrooms and tomato onto her plate and laughed when she screwed up her nose. She happily ate the tomato but wasn't touching the mushrooms, she hated them.
"I don't like mushrooms Daddy."
"You haven't tried these ones."
"They look disgusting." She whined. "Do I have to eat them?"
"Mushrooms are my favourite, so yummy." Isla tried to encourage her by eating one herself and Addy put one in her mouth and just about gagged and spat it out. The last thing Alfie wanted was to make her sick, two days ago she was vomiting and making her gag did concern him.
"Yuck. It's disgusting." She spat it out then wiped her tongue and then took a big drink of milk.
"That's not very polite is it?" Isla admonished her and Alfie just glared at her. Addy looked a little shocked.
"Just finish your egg and tomato, you don't have to eat the mushrooms." He patted her hand and smiled at Addy. "Thanks for trying Adelaide."
Alfie seemed like a nice guy but that didn't stop her worrying about where Quinn fit into all this. She tried to ask and Alfie shut her down. "Do you mind if we don't talk about that while Addy is around? Some things she doesn't understand and she worries about things she shouldn't." It didn't endear him to Isla at all. It was two steps forward and one step back.
They walked back towards Quinn's apartment and stopped at a playground on the way home. Addy begged her Daddy to stop and was off like a rocket. "So, ask away?" Alfie crossed his ankles and leant back on the bench as he watched Addy climb up the slide in a flash.
"I just worry about Quinn; I worry she's giving up everything and you've given up nothing."
"Is that what she told you?"
"She's a romantic, she dreams of being wooed, wined and dined, a fairy-tale wedding, her own children." Isla shrugged "She was disappointed that you cancelled dinner."
"I was disappointed too. I didn't deliberately make Addy spew."
He noticed Isla pinched look and asked her what she wanted to know and wasn't expecting it to go where it did. "How can you not know you had a daughter, for three years."
"Is that your issue?"
"One of them, yes." Isla was at least honest. "What stops you walking away from Quinn and leaving her with a baby to raise. You know Quinn wants her own children."
"I do know that; you know we do talk. Is that what you think happened? I walked away from my ex? I'm not going to explain all the details to you because I am not sure you'd care and honestly it's none of your business but I can tell you that had I known about Addy my decision to move back to Chicago would have been completely different." Alfie tried not to sound pissed but failed. "Maybe I wouldn't be here right now, but I am here. Addy is here, she's not going anywhere, I am here in your sister's life and I love every minute of being with Quinn and nothing you do or say is going to change that."
Alfie watched as Addy ran towards him, her face red and puffing loudly. "Did you see me?"
"I did." He may have been busy trying to get Isla to understand but he hadn't taken his eyes off Addy either. "You climb like one of my koalas."
"Can you push me on the swing?" She tugged on her Dad's hand. "Please Daddy."
"Sure can." He turned to Isla. "Excuse us, I'm going to play with my daughter, if that's okay with you?" He probably didn't need to add that but she had pushed his buttons and Alfie was hoping that Quinn wouldn't be too annoyed with him but he got the feeling no matter what he said or did Isla wasn't going to approve.
She watched him from the bench. Addy was laughing and he pulled out his phone when it rang and he let Addy talk first. "Quinn, we are at the park. I am on the swing and Daddy is pushing me. Can you come?"
"I'm at work sweetie but I will see you later. You and Daddy are staying at my house tonight and I am very excited. I missed you." That wasn't sounding like a good idea to Alfie now but he wouldn't let Quinn down. He wasn't giving Isla any more ammunition to use against him. He also wanted to be a little bit petty.
"We had breakfast with Isla. Daddy buyed us breakfast."
"Did you?"
Quinn was surprised. "You did what?" she asked Alfie when Addy took off back to the swing. He helped her up into the seat and started pushing her. "Why would you do that?"
"I thought we'd take her out to breakfast to get to know her and apologise for bailing on dinner."
"Great."
"I am sure you will hear about it in minute detail." Alfie laughed awkwardly, Quinn seemed pissed at him and he wasn't really sure why. "I am not sure I've helped much. Sorry Baby."
"Probably not, so thanks for that?"
"You seem pissy. I was trying to do something nice."
"Yep, got that." Quinn wasn't surprised that Alfie tried to charm her sister and neither was she surprised that Isla still had a stick up her ass. She was also pretty sure she was about to hear all about it.
He helped Addy off the swing with the promise of a trip to the zoo. He wanted to check on Talia after her operation, he'd already had an update but he really wanted to lay eyes on her. Addy took off towards Isla. "We going to the zoo, do you want to come too?"
"No thank you Addy. I don't like zoos."
"It's my favourite place in the whole wide world." She flung her arms out wide. "It's like magic."
"I've seen all those beautiful animals out in the wild, where they belong."
"But they die, people do bad things to them."
"Maybe some, but many of them live happy lives with other animals like them. I think it's cruel to lock them up."
Alfie really starting to dislike Isla and he was pretty easy going, there weren't many people he didn't get along with. He didn't mind that people were opposed to Zoo's. What he hated was that she was showing so little respect to him, his job and to Adelaide. He'd dealt with people like Isla his whole life, but he'd never dealt with them with regards to his daughter and he didn't like the way it was making him feel.
Addy was on the brink of tears and if anything was going to piss him off was deliberately upsetting her. "Daddy loves them and he takes good care of them."
Isla looked at Alfie and saw how pissed he was. "I am sure he does."
"Bet you can't wait for that." He muttered under his breath. This had been a bad idea.
Alfie held onto Addy's hand as they walked home to get his car and didn't feel like talking to Isla right now, but that didn't stop her trying to push her views down his throat but she was happy to try anyway.
She was passionate about her beliefs, he had to give her that even if she just wouldn't let it go. "I guess we both have different passions." Alfie was barely listening to her anymore.
"We do, that's what makes the world tick." Alfie was done. "My passion is your sister, my daughter, my family and my job."
Alfie wasn't about to change or compromise who he was just to appease someone, who at this stage he didn't really like. He was who he was, he was a single dad, a zoologist who was passionate about what he did, a carer for an elderly man who he owed his life too and a guy who had fallen in love with an amazingly beautiful patient and caring woman. Right now his life was too good to be bought down by someone who didn't seem to like him for no particular reason.
He also wasn't about to make Addy change to make Isla like her either. Addy was happy, she loved to talk, she loved animals and the zoo was her favourite place on earth. Isla could like her or not, she could like how Alfie was raising her or not, it didn't matter to him. The only person he had any interest in appeasing was Quinn, she was what mattered to him.
After checking on Talia they decided to pick Quinn up from work. She usually caught the train to work so it was easy enough to swing by and catch her as she left. Addy climbed into the front seat once he had found a park outside and waited. He couldn't believe how full of beans she was compared to yesterday. Lola told him that once the anti-biotics had kicked in the bounce would be dramatic.
Addy was hanging out the car window screeching at Quinn. "Quinn, Quinn. We here Quinn, we come get you."
"Well this is a nice surprise." Addy hugged her through the window and then happily climbed into the back seat ready to be buckled in. Quinn leant through the front seats and strapped her in and completely ignored Alfie.
"Missed you." He demanded a kiss before they took off. "How was your day?"
Reluctantly she gave him a kiss. "Long."
She asked about the Zoo and Addy filled her in on Talia. The operation had gone well and she was up and about and showing no ill effects, which was a relief. Addy also delighted in telling Quinn about how spew came out her nose. "What did you feed her today?"
"Not bacon."
"So I heard… among other things."
"I guess Isla called you?"
"Yep, called, texted, sent a fucking bat signal."
"Awesome so you are pissed at me?"
"How'd you guess?"
He had the feeling he was going to be the bad guy in all this and he was a little pissed she wasn't even interested in his version of events. "Great, do you want me to take Addy home?"
"No Daddy, I stay with Quinn." Addy piped up from the backseat. "You promised I sleep with Quinn and you."
"It' fine. I want you to stay."
"Sounds like it."
"Please Daddy?"
"Okay, Addy we are staying at Quinn's but you might need to sleep in the car." He told her, desperately trying to lighten the mood.
"Oh, you silly Alfred. That's illegal."
Isla was cooking dinner when they got home. "Hope you don't mind?" She was talking to Quinn but they all knew the question was directed at Alfie. He didn't really care if she was unhappy he was here or not.
"Not at all. Looking forward to it." Alfie felt like he had to try and make peace with Isla so that Quinn would relax. It was running off the rails quickly, dare he say it was heading for a fuckening.
"I am not sure Addy will like it. You can cook her something else if you like." Isla added. "I won't be offended."
"As long as it's not peas, beetroot or mushrooms she'll be fine."
"Chickpea and cauliflower curry. I did put a few mushrooms in, she won't notice. Hiding them in food can trick kids into eating them." They didn't trick Addy into eating anything, they asked her to try things, she either liked them or she didn't.
That grinded Alfie's gears and it took all his energy to be nice. "I haven't been able to trick her yet, she's smarter than that."
What the fuck? She was right there that morning when Addy talked about hating mushrooms and just about gagged when she put one in her mouth. He felt she was doing it to get him to react and he wasn't giving her that satisfaction nor was he taking parenting advice from Quinn's single hippy tree hugging sister.
Alfie was pissed and he took Addy for a shower before he said something and got her into her pyjamas. The tension in the house was noticeable and Quinn did start to wonder if she'd got the whole story today.
Isla couldn't help herself. "Addy is very cute. She seems really lovely, I thought she'd be a bit more…."
Quinn cut her sister off before she could finish her snide remark. "What? Fucked Up? She's a happy little girl."
"Alfie seems to care about her a lot."
It was a strange thing to say. "Of course he does, she's his daughter. What did you expect? He is a wonderful Dad to Addy, he's a sweet man." She may have been pissed at Alfie but she'd still defend him.
Addy came bursting into the lounge, surprisingly dressed in her pyjama's. Alfie had made her get dressed before she left the bedroom which was unusual, she would be out doing a nudie run given half the chance and Quinn usually helped her get dressed while Alfie had a shower himself and cleaned up after Addy. "Where's your Dad?"
"Cleaning up my mess."
Isla rolled her eyes when Quinn slipped off the stool and disappeared into the bathroom. "I think Quinn is going to help Daddy." She watched Addy climb up on the stool and prop herself up on her knees.
"Are you going to sleep in my bed again?"
"Yes, is that okay? Where will you sleep?"
"With Daddy and Quinn. Daddy likes it sometimes." Addy giggled. "He calls me a wiggly worm."
"I am sure he does."
Quinn leant on the doorframe and watched Alfie in the shower, he was a million miles away. "She's gone in two days, do you think you can keep your shit together until then?"
"Sure."
"She's my sister."
"I know, don't I know it, she keeps telling me." Alfie had just about had enough. "She keeps telling me what I am doing wrong, and what an asshole I am and judging by your attitude you seem to agree."
"Fuck you."
"I'd like too." Alfie watched her for a moment, he knew it would piss her off.
"You are such a fucking child sometimes.."
Alfie turned off the taps and grabbed the towel to wrap around his waist. "You know what? I love you."
"I know."
He stopped in front of her, dripping wet and probably got a little too close to her. He heard her breath hitch in her throat and knew that he was getting to her in ways that he loved to do. "You are what matters to me, you. I love you." The kiss left her breathless. He had this insane ability to turn her brain to mush.
He wasn't surprised to see Addy up at the bench talking Isla's ear off. "Adelaide, are you talking too much?"
"Yes."
"Thought so? Do you want to talk to Pops?" She clapped happily and waited for Alfie to grab his phone as he explained to Isla that "She talks to him every night if we aren't home."
He propped the phone up in front of her and Addy was leaning on her elbows waiting for him to answer. "Hi Pops." Her excitement to talk to Pops never waned. "Are you okay?"
"I am Darlin'." Adam loved the call and would wait for it. "How are you today? Have you had a good day? Do you feel better?"
"We did, we were very busy. We went and saw Talia and she is so good now. She's all better and can see so she doesn't fall over anymore. Daddy saved her." Alfie really was her superhero.
"That's good."
"I am helping Quinn's sister cook dinner." Although Addy's idea of helping people cook was to sit and talk their ear off.
"What are you cooking?"
"You won't like it Pops, it's got no meat."
"Oh dear, that's not good. Will you be okay?"
"It's okay Pops, I try my best. Isla is very pretty, like Quinn. I think she likes me; she is sleeping in my bed."
"Where are you going to sleep? In the car?"
"No." she laughed. "That's silly. She doesn't like Daddy though." Alfie cringed. Trust Addy to make things awkward and he didn't bother looking at Isla because he hoped she felt awkward enough anyway. Not that he cared, she wasn't making an effort so why should he. He was getting close to peak pettiness, something he'd learned from growing up with three girls.
"Well I don't like your Daddy some days too."
"Oh Pops…" Addy groaned. "..I love him."
"I know you do Darlin'."
"Is Bug cooking dinner?" Addy chatted to him for a few more minutes, just checking that he was okay and that he wasn't missing out on dinner. "I miss you, I love you Pops, don't miss me."
Alfie took him off speaker and had a chat to him for a few minutes before he hung up. "Well that was sweet." Isla tried to make it seem less weird. Addy had climbed down and was dragging out a puzzle to do. She still loved puzzles and could spend an hour trying to finish it.
"It is. She loves her Pops. I think he might be her favourite person." Alfie grabbed himself a beer. "He was waiting for us at the airport when we arrived back for the first time, he was so excited to meet her and they've been as thick as thieves ever since."
"That must have been nice."
"He's a special guy."
"Quinn says he bought you up."
"Yeah, I guess. I mean from when I was seven, I do remember my parents a little, my little sister Bug doesn't remember them at all. She was about the same age as Addy was when her mother passed away so they kinda have that between them, Pops is just this awesome rock for her."
"Your parents called your sister Bug?"
"No, they called her Iris." Alfie snorted which didn't go down well judging by the death stare he got. "…we call her Bug. Always have, from the time Mum was pregnant with her. It just stuck."
"Your family seems really important to you."
"My family is the most important thing in my life. I wouldn't be here without them."
"Do they like Quinn?" Isla was not going to die wondering that's for sure and he shouldn't have been surprised. Quinn asked whatever popped into her head most of the time as well. "I know how sister's sometimes make things hard for a girlfriend, especially since you are the only boy."
"We are not what you'd call typical. I think they like her more than me most days. They get pissy with me if she doesn't come to dinner." Alfie had just about had enough. "I think you should stop worrying about Quinn, my family loves her, my daughter loves her and I love her. We are really happy and that's all my sister's care about and I'd hope that would be important to you too, that Quinn is happy? I know how to treat women, I know how to treat Quinn, my sisters and my Pops would kick my ass if I didn't treat her right, if that's another one of your issues?"
"No, no issue. Just want my sister to be happy too."
"Great, then we are on the same page." He tapped the side of his bottle a little angrily and lowered his voice. "So we can drop it? You are upsetting Quinn and I don't like that." He stepped out of the kitchen when Quinn came out of the bedroom after having a shower.
Addy didn't love dinner, she tried it but Alfie noticed she was just sitting at the table playing with it. "She doesn't have to eat it." Isla didn't even look at him. "If she doesn't like it, as I said I'm not that easily offended."
"Addy needs to new try things, that's the rules."
"I tried Daddy." She burst into tears. "I don't like it."
"Fine. Don't eat it then." He snapped. "I'll make you something else."
"Can I have Mac and Cheese?" She blubbered. Quinn rubbed her arm tyring to let her know it was okay. The only reason Alfie snapped at her was because Isla had made him feel bad about Addy not eating what she had cooked. "Please?"
"Sure." He jumped up to make her some dinner. She had tried it, she always did but he couldn't blame her for not liking it, it was pretty bland. He was being polite but he'd kill for some of the Mac and Cheese that Addy was about to get, and he didn't even like the stuff.
"I tried to make it bland so Addy would like it, I know how fussy kids can be." Isla explained. "It's usually better than this, you were missing a few ingredients too."
"She's not fussy." Alfie muttered under his breath. Sure when she first arrived getting her to eat had been a challenge but generally Addy ate whatever they gave her.
"Addy loves all sorts of foods, we don't usually change much for her." Quinn tried to ease the tension a little while Alfie was cooking her dinner. He found some chorizo in the fridge and fried it up to add to it, basically just to piss Isla off, she was goading him and he could be just as petty.
"I'm sorry." She whispered to Quinn. "It's got mushrooms." Alfie heard her and wanted to say I told you so but bit his tongue.
"It's okay sweetheart. You tried it, that's all we ask. Daddy's making you something now."
Isla apologised when Alfie bought Addy's dinner over. He made her sit back in her chair after she had asked Quinn for a hug, to finish her meal. He wasn't going to apologise for Addy because that would just upset her even more. "Well you saw her reaction to mushrooms this morning, I'm surprised you put them in." He snapped. He'd had enough. He was pretty sure she left that little bit of information out when she obviously gave Quinn her detailed description of the morning. He wasn't about to let it go though, he was being petty and he'd been taught by the best.
"They are disgusting." Addy screwed up her nose. "I put them in the bin."
Alfie winked at her and that at least made her smile. "Yes you do."
Addy ate her dinner, making sure she ate every bit of chorizo and politely asked to leave the table and took her plate over to the sink. She dropped the fork half way and when she bent down to pick it up the last few pieces of macaroni slid off the plate onto the floor. "Oh bugger." She muttered and Alfie tried to hide his smirk when Isla looked like she'd sucked a lemon. Dropping the plate into the sink with a clatter Alfie thanked her.
Addy was happy to play while the girls finished another glass of wine before Addy was made to clean her teeth and come say goodnight.
"I think I've scared him off?" Isla joked when Alfie didn't come back right away. They cleared up the dishes and settled into the lounge. Isla sat back while Quinn tidied up Addy's toys.
"I doubt it, he's probably reading her a story. She will try and get as many books as possible out of us."
"You look like you love this."
"I do love this. I love having them here."
"Do you think they will move in?"
"Here? I doubt it, it is too small for the three of us. Addy really loves playing outside and she has a big yard at her house. It wouldn't be fair to bring her here to live." Quinn didn't really want to get into it, they had talked about it and they were just working through the logistics. "There is a lot to work out."
"Such as?"
"His family, his Pops. It's complicated."
"Guys like to stall as much as possible. They like their space and your space; they just freak out at the thought of it being 'our space.' It's like they see it as a trap or something." Isla used air quotes and laughed despite her sister's withering stare.
"Well since 'his' space includes Addy, his sister, her boyfriend and his Pops, it's not really the same thing is it?" Quinn snapped.
"Sorry." Quinn just glared at her; she was a nanosecond away from telling her to fuck off but Alfie came out so she swallowed it.
He grabbed himself another beer and topped up their glasses. Quinn looked annoyed but Alfie wasn't so sure if it was with him or her sister so he ignored it. "Addy's asleep?"
"She is, it was a task. She's way too excited about sleeping with us and she has plans for you in the morning Isla, just so you know."
"Should I be worried?"
"Potentially. I promised not to ruin her surprise. Like pinky promise, so sorry my lips are sealed."
"Sounds serious?"
"A pinky promise with a four year old is an iron clad agreement." Alfie winked at Quinn when she smiled at him, he'd felt a shift in her since dinner. "I don't make the rules." She had no idea what they were up too, sometimes it was better not to ask.
"What are you up to?" Quinn tried to ask him when they were cleaning their teeth ready for bed. She was worried it was all going to go horribly wrong. Call it dread, she had a sense of dread.
"It's Addy's surprise."
"Try not to be fucking be a dick about it." Suddenly pissy Quinn was back and he had no idea why.
He threw his toothbrush back. "Sure." One thing he never did was go to bed with kissing her goodnight and telling her he loved her. Tonight it was hard to do and he was grateful that Addy was with them. Otherwise he felt like it was going to get ugly.
