42
Ianto was driving when his cell phone went so he touched the button on the steering wheel to turn on the blue tooth "Hello there, Doctor Harkness–Jones here. Can I help you today?"
"Tad!" Sam's voice was warm and full of affection as Ianto smiled happily.
"Hello peanut, what's up?"
"Sorry to bother you, it is a 'Bothering' question" she sighed down the line "you know the baby doll carriages you got last month? Those little animal print ones for the kids for Christmas?"
"Yes, for their dollies. Four different patterns. Lady bug, duck, frog and paw prints for a dog or cat. why sweetheart?" Ianto frowned, not looking her sigh.
"Well, LB saw them… I know they are hidden for Christmas but the little bugger followed me into the 'stuff house' and of course wanted the lady bug one to play with now. I told her only in the house and we must not tell, it's a secret hidey place for Santa and he will be cross if he knows the elves left them out. She seemed happy but … well… within the first few minutes one of the wheels popped off."
Ianto slowed to the side of the road, interested now "Did it pop back on sweetie?"
"Yes. I looks like it is missing a screw to hold the wheel to the axel. I looked at a few more and they are the same. Not all of them, just like five or six... all the lady bugs. A little manufacturing ooops? Anyway, I just need the invoice and I will ring and ask about maybe replacing them with ones that have screws in place? Now she's seen it she is overly attached. Anything Lady Bug, you know her."
"Look, I am almost back to the Lake house from the shops… I can sort it. Will give me something to do rather than think of ways to strangle Jack." Ianto smiled "Oh, did Fen get those socks I left out?"
"Yes. He was like a child at Christmas, I have no idea where you find them. For a man who dresses the same all the time in his black clothing for the helicopter, he does love his novelty socks." She laughed.
"Well… I have novelty underwear but only Jack gets to see that so.. maybe I buy them for him?" Ianto supposed, his daughter-in-law howling with mirth as he told her of a pair that had little ballerina hippos on them.
"Only you can wear things like that, must be where Fen gets it from" she laughed "Love you Taddy."
"Love you too my darling girl" Ianto finished the call and felt a rush of delight in her saying that Fen took after him with his dress sense. You know… come to think of it… he was the one who always got him novelty socks every Christmas.