Abby's scream was something I'd never forget.

I wasn't sure how I felt being alone with the girls for the day. I had no problem with Jess going off with her friends. Hell, she worked harder than I ever did, making sure our home was a safe, comfortable, and loving place for our girls to grow up. Going out with her friends to the beach for the day was the absolute least I could do for her.

Staying with Kelsey was a no brainer. Kelsey had been a daddy's girl from the day she was born. But Abby. Abby was a different monster entirely.

When Abby was born, she'd come out screaming and she kept going. She screamed so loud I thought the paint would peel off the wall. The doctors thought she looked a little pale, so they took her and checked her over before handing her to me and Jess.

I took Abby first, and while she calmed down for a minute, she still fussed and squirmed. I handed her to Jess and that's when it happened.

Abby went quiet.

Not scary quiet. She still made little baby noises, but she stared at Jess and seemed so content that I couldn't help but be a little jealous. I loved her-I can't possibly express how much I loved her-but there was a little part of me that was jealous.

I got it. I understood, and still do understand, why Abby was and is attached to Jess. Her pregnancy with Kelsey was a normal one, but with Abby her blood pressure went up. Way up. Up so high that from the sixth to the ninth month Jess was placed on almost complete bed rest. She could get up to go to the bathroom, take a shower, and take a quick walk around the yard, but other than that, she needed to stay in bed.

I'd thought at first that Jess would go crazy, and while it did bother her a little, she talked to Abby. She talked to her all the time, about everything she could think about. She told Abby all about her room she'd have when she was born, what her sister was like, what I was like, who uncle Dean was. Dean had moved in temporarily when Jess went on bedrest, and it turned out to be a lifesaver. I had underestimated how much work it would be to take care of Kelsey, take care of Jess, and work myself.

My point is, while I talked to Abby sometimes too while Jess was pregnant, Jess and Abby were attached at the hip before Abby was even born.

So I knew that the day would be bumpy before it even really started, but I was hopeful. Maybe I could keep Abby preoccupied enough that she wouldn't even notice Jess wasn't there.

Turns out I'm an idiot.

Kelsey was eating breakfast and we were chatting about all the things that four year olds chat about. Kelsey was telling me about what she was learning in preschool, finishing up her waffle, when I heard it. Abby's scream from her room.

I heard Kelsey say something to me, but I didn't listen. I was too worried that something had happened to Abby. Had she fallen out of her crib trying to get out? That had happened once before when a sleep deprived Sam and Jess had forgotten to lock it. Was she sick? Before there was time for more worrying about what might have happened, I stopped at Abby's door and waited for a second. If she was just crying because she was upset, me walking in and being panicked would only make her more upset. After I counted to five, I opened her door.

"Aww, what's wrong, Abby Gabby?"

Abby stopped crying by the tiniest bit and looked up at me. Abby loved Sesame Street, so I called her that when she was upset. Kelsey had told me before that the name was actually Abby Cadabby, but Abby seemed to like her special nickname, so I kept it. Anyway, I picked her up and rocked her some. It worked, but I could tell she was still upset.

"Shh. It's okay. Why you crying so hard, huh?"

Finally, Abby spoke her first words all day. Too bad they were exactly the ones that I didn't want to hear.

"Mama."

I stopped rocking her and tried not to frown. "Oh, Cupcake. Mama's gone today."

Abby stuck her lip out and I could see it. She wanted to cry again.

"Please don't cry, Cupcake. Daddy'll be here with you today. We'll have fun, I promise."

I don't think she quite believed me, but at least she didn't start with the damn tears again. "Kessy?"

"She's in the kitchen eating breakfast. You hungry?"

"Ossar."

Abby pointed at her crib, and I knew right away what she wanted. I got the message loud and clear. If Mommy's not here, I'll go with you, but not without my best friend. I reached in the crib and pulled out Abby's stuffed Oscar the grouch toy and handed it to her.

"Here you go. You ready for breakfast?"

"Awfuls?"

I laughed. She'd learn how to say it one day. "Sure. I'll make you a waffle."

One waffle, one diaper change, one video, and one Abby friendly game of tag in the yard with me and Kelsey later, I was about to give up and call Jess to come home. Abby was checking every car that passed, looking at every person that walked by, and just generally not paying attention. I kept playing with Kelsey, hoping Abby would want to join in.

Nope.

I took the girls inside and made lunch. I had promised Kelsey I'd make her favorite lunch, grilled cheese, but I asked her if she'd mind if I made her sisters. She, of course, being the kid she is, immediately agreed. I think she was just as upset seeing her sister being so sad as I was. So I got to work on peanut butter on apple slices with apple juice, and Abby started to feel a little better. At least I hope she did. Maybe she was just cranky and needed some food. Maybe the day would end up being okay. When lunch was over, I took a look at Jess's note she'd left me. You don't have to follow it exactly, but try to stick to it as much as you can. Trust me, it'll help the day go much smoother.

12:15 (or after lunch)-naptime. Kelsey doesn't have to take one if she's not tired, but Abby needs it. There's a bottle in here already made for her.

I pulled the bottle out and I felt my heart drop a little bit. I had hated constantly having to make bottles when the girls were really little. But now that Kelsey was completely weaned off them and Abby was down to just a bedtime and naptime bottle, I found that I missed it. Not the constant making and washing them, but the closeness of feeding them and just spending time with them. Being able to just be there with them, and having a perfectly valid excuse to sit there and stare at the gorgeous kid on my lap and brag to myself that hey, I made that. I made this beautiful thing and contributed something good to the world, not just spent my life taking out bad things.

I know I'm biased about it, but hey, can't help it. Jess and me make some gorgeous kids.

But when I turned around, all I saw was Abby's back. She was running away. What the hell had I even done? I started to put the bottle down and just about gave up.

"Daddy, wait."

"Hey, kiddo. Why don't you go grab a movie or something? We'll watch it together on the couch."

"What about Abby? It's her naptime."

I tried not to sigh really, really deeply. "I don't think Abby likes being with Daddy too much."

"She does, she just misses Mommy a lot. Did you and Mommy tell her that Mommy wouldn't be here today like you did me?"

And there it was. Jess and I had told Kelsey the night before when we put her to bed that Jess wouldn't be there the next day. By the time we went in to check on Abby, because she almost never went to sleep right after we put her down, she surprisingly was out like a light, and we never told her.

"Daddy, maybe she's sad 'cause she thinks Mommy just left. You want me to talk to her?"

"Sure, kiddo. Give it a try."

"Okay. Give me a minute before you come, okay?"

I smiled. Kelsey would make a good mom one day. "Okay, sweetie. Go ahead."

I watched Kelsey go back into the living room and go behind the couch, where Abby no doubt believed she had found herself a brilliant hiding spot. I heard Kelsey talking to her and followed her ninety seconds later. Just in time to hear her say one thing.

"No nap."

I started to tell Abby that she had to take a nap, then got a different idea.

"Abby?"

Abby looked up at me and I will swear until the day I die that she glared at me. I didn't know babies that little could even glare, but she did. And guess who she looked exactly like when she was mad?

"I know you miss your Mommy. She's coming back, I promise."

"Where go?"

"She went to play with some friends." I told her. Jess had gone to the beach for the day with some of her mommy play group friends, so that was close enough, right? "Like when you go to daycare and play with the other kids."

"Mama go pay?"

"Yeah. Mommy just went to play with friends. She'll be back tonight before it's time for you to go to bed."

Abby seemed to process what I told her, and I guess she decided she believed me. She turned her focus back on something else.

"No nap."

"You don't have to take a nap, baby."

She didn't believe me again. She pointed at the bottle I still had in my hand.

"I'm changing your diaper, and then you do have to take your bottle. Kelsey's gonna read a book to me and you. What do you think?"

Abby smiled. "Kessy say 'tory?"

"Yeah. Kelesy'll tell us a story. What do you say?"

Kelsey reading a story equals Abby's full, undivided attention. I learn something every single day. Abby was fascinated with Green Eggs and Ham, but the combination of running around outside, laying down on Daddy's lap, and sucking on a bottle was a recipe for a knocked out Abby. Thirty minutes later, Kelsey was asleep too, and I was by myself for the first time all day.

I could've put Abby down in her crib, but I remembered how she woke up earlier and decided against it. When she woke up without her mother, she was crushed. Maybe if she woke up this time and wasn't alone, it would soften the blow.

No such luck.

When Abby woke up, she smiled at me. I wish I could make Abby feel as good as she makes me feel when she smiles at me. But the smile faded away.

"Mama?"

"She's not back yet, baby."

"Nite nite?"

"She'll be back before nite nite time."

"Daddy wan' Mama too?"

"Yeah. Daddy misses Mommy too." I took Abby's hand and kissed it. "I'm sorry you're sad and miss Mommy. I wish I could help."

Abby smiled, then grabbed my arm and hugged it tight. "Abby wub Daddy."

"Oh, Cupcake. You're gonna make Daddy cry." I picked her up and hugged her close. "Daddy loves you too. So much."

"Daddy pay Abby?"

"Sure. I'll play with you."

Kelsey, woke up a few minutes later, and we played tag again. This time, Abby did much better. Kelsey thinks I let Abby win, but the truth is I don't. Abby's like a little bar of soap sometimes, and she easily slips between my legs. She and Kelsey teamed up against me. Kelsey helped Abby get away and towards the front stairs. Abby getting to the top steps, turning around, and lifting her arms up in victory against Daddy is something I don't think I'll ever forget.

I took the girls inside and started on dinner. I checked on them every few minutes and saw Kelsey helping Abby draw. I made Kelsey's favorite dinner, since I'd skipped what she wanted for lunch, then went to get them.

"Alright, girls. Dinner's ready."

"Daddy, Abby has something to give you."

Abby took her picture and walked over. I knelt down again and she handed her picture over to me.

"This looks great, Abby!" I said, drawing a smile from Abby. "Can you tell me about it?"

Abby pointed to the left side of the picture, which appeared to me to be only red scribbles. "Daddy."

"That's me?"

"Daddy." Abby repeated. She pointed to a smaller, bluish-purple scribble in the midst of the red scribbles. "Abby."

I smiled again. "This is me and you."

"Daddy wike?"

I kissed her cheek and hugged her. "I love it. Just like I love you."

The front door started to open then, and that's when it happened. The moment Abby had waited for all day long.

"MAMA!"

Jess closed the door behind her and bent down to pick up the racing Abby. Abby beat Kelsey and me to the door.

"Hi, my sweet girl! Did you have a good day here with Daddy?"

"It was a little rough at first, but I think we worked it out." I told Jess.

"Mama. Daddy good." Abby said, finally letting go of Jess's neck.

"Daddy's good?" Jess asked.

"Daddy good." Abby repeated. Her tummy growled and Abby looked down. "Abby hungy."

Remember earlier when I told Abby she was going to make me cry? Yeah, she did.

"Me too." Kelsey said.

"Okay, girls. Let's go eat dinner and you can tell me all about your day here with Daddy."

Before I knew it, it was time for bed again. Abby didn't fight it this time, but there was one thing she wanted that was different from normal. Abby freaked when she couldn't find Oscar, crying and screaming like she only did when she was scared. I 'rescued' Oscar from the bathroom floor (when the hell did Oscar get in the bathroom?), and brought him to Abby.

She surprised me again.

"Daddy 'tay."

"You want me to stay?"

"Daddy 'tay." Abby said with a yawn. "Mommy go Kessy."

"What?"

I saw her get frustrated, but Jess translated for me. "Daddy. I think she wants you to stay and rub her back until she goes to sleep, and for me to go to Kelsey."

"Yeah." Abby confirmed.

Jess smiled, kissed Abby goodnight, and I admit it. I was out of my comfort zone. Abby clung to Jess so much I was lost sometimes with how to comfort her. But Abby was already waiting on me, put her against my chest just like I'd done Kelsey, rubbed her back and hummed to her. Ten minutes later, Abby was snoring softly.

I laid her back down in the crib and just watched her for a minute. Watched her chest come up and go back down, watched her cuddle Oscar and smile in her sleep, just watched her be. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

"Daddy loves you, Cupcake."