"Jackie, you have to help me, she won't stop crying!" Robbie said desperately into the phone two weeks later.
Jackie's only response was laughter and Robbie scowled down the line, "I fail to see the humour in this," he warned her, causing her to laugh harder.
Robbie narrowed his eyes at the sound as he looked back down at the squalling infant he held in his arms. Sophia had her father's colouring and her mother's delicate features; she also seemed to have inherited her father's more laid-back personality.
Not so today.
Her small face was scrunched up as she continued to scream the house down, just as she had been for the past couple of hours. Robbie was at a loss as to what to do and so had called Jackie, hoping her experience with four children would help him out.
So far he had received scant sympathy.
"Jackie, you are a dear friend, but if you don't start being more helpful I may have to disown you," Robbie warned, not entirely joking.
Jackie caught the more serious note in his tone and calmed down, "I am sorry Robbie, but you really are the last person I would have expected to be calling me for advice about children."
"Please Jackie," Robbie continued, shifting Sophia into a more comfortable position.
"All right, Ebony and I will be right over," Jackie assured him before she hung up.
True to her word Jackie arrived, toddler in tow, soon after.
"Give her to me," Jackie said after exchanging brief greetings and Robbie dutifully handed over the still screaming child.
She immediately settled.
"That. Is. Not. Fair," Robbie said after a brief moment.
Jackie snickered, "I guess some of us just have a knack," she teased, as Sophia started to drift off.
"Be careful what you say or you may be forced over here all the time," Robbie told her.
Jackie just smiled as she went to put Sophia into her cradle.
"Seriously, though, thank you," Robbie said, sinking into a seat nearby, "I'd forgotten how much hard work children are."
"The best things in life are hard work," Jackie responded, sitting down and watching Ebony play quietly with her blocks in the corner.
"She's well trained," Robbie observed.
Jackie laughed, "No, she's just very good at pretending."
Ebony looked up, "And Mummy promised me ice cream," she told Robbie with a smile.
Robbie looked at Jackie, "What?" she protested, "Never underestimate the power of a bribe," she told him.