We're Home – Part 3
By: SnowWhite
" How come Daddy?" she asked
" I don't know darling, I guess I just couldn't see what was underneath my nose all that time."
" Maybe you needed glasses," Melanie suggested
Archie laughed and ruffled his daughter's hair before planting a firm kiss on her head
" I most definitely did." He replied
He looked over at Lexie who was now half-asleep again listening to their chatter. Archie placed the photo Melanie had found in his bedside draw and whispered
" Let's make Mummy breakfast in bed."
" Okay" Melanie whispered back before ambling out of bed and out the door.
Archie did so more carefully so as not to reawaken his wife, but it didn't work. Just as he had swung his legs out of bed Lexie reached over and murmured
" Where are you going?"
" Not far. It's a surprise"
" Arch I don't like your surprises" Lexie reminded
" I promise you'll like this one." He reassured leaning over to kiss her. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip till she opened her mouth and let him in. When he withdrew she smiled
" How do you know I'll like this surprise?" She asked
" Because" Archie said pulling on some clothes and walking for the door " Melanie's helping me with it."
When Archie finally made it down to the kitchen Melanie was already organizing everything they would need to make Lexie breakfast in bed. Well, everything a five-year-old would want to eat in bed.
After ten minutes Archie had finally persuaded his daughter that Mummy didn't need chocolate, chips, ice-cream, peanut butter or toasted marshmallows (?) for breakfast and had steered her towards something a bit more conventional- scrambled eggs.
Melanie insisted on whisking them but Archie drew the line at her cooking them as well. Instead he gifted her with the responsibility of arranging the tray.
Eggs finished, toast toasted, and cup of tea made Archie set them on Melanie's tray.
" Can we have candles?" She asked hopefully
" No"
" Why not?"
" Because" Archie thought of the most logical reason, " It's not dark."
" So" Melanie countered
" And you'd have to carry them on the tray up the stairs."
" I could do it" The child remarked
" But then Mummy would have to balance it in bed, and if one of the candles fell over the bed might catch alight."
" Oh" Melanie's face dropped as she contemplated this new piece of evidence
" Well, we can't have that"
Archie smiled; glad to have won at least one battle so far this morning. He glanced at the tray, and the cup of tea, and when Melanie wasn't looking wisely took it in his own hands to carry up to his wife.
" Ready? " He asked
" Ready" Melanie replied as Archie lowered the tray into her hands and prepared for the long, slow and careful walk back to his bedroom.
His heart swung back and forth with the eggs on the tray, willing them not to fall crashing to the ground as the plate slid back and forth.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity they were back at the bedroom door.
Archie turned the handle and pushed it open as Melanie carefully negotiated the tray of food through.
Lexie looked up and smiled " For me?" She asked
" Yes Mummy- we made scrambled eggs! But we couldn't have any candles because you might catch the bed alight." Melanie explained
" Oh, okay." Lexie raised her eyebrows at her husband who shrugged
Archie held the tray as Melanie climbed up onto the bed and then passed it back to her to hand to Lexie
" Mmm yum." She exclaimed in appreciation
" I know what's important to you" Archie smiled
" Scrambled eggs" Lexie replied with a knowing smile at their personal joke from a couple of years ago. Archie chuckled and walking to her side placed the cup of tea on her bedside table.
TO BE CONTINUED…