CHAPTER 30 - Locked Down Together - Little birds

Phoebe thinks that her daddy is the best daddy of the whole World. He is even stronger than the super heroes that Teddy loves. Daddy works all the time, but he plays a lot with Teddy and Phoebe, more than any other daddy. Right now, Daddy is home a lot because of the lock down, which makes Phoebe very happy.

Phoebe likes it when grown-ups talk to her and ask for her opinion as if she were a grown-up too. Daddy and Ana do it a lot, and it makes Phoebe proud; it makes her believe that she really is very mature for her age, like everybody says, in particular aunt Mia – Daddy jokes that it is because aunt Mia is not even as mature as Phoebe is, and she is four times her age.

But today, Phoebe does not understand why both Daddy and Ana asked her if she is okay with Ana being Daddy's girlfriend. Of course she is okay, Phoebe loves Ana more and more every day. Almost as much as she loves Daddy.

Ana came here to take care of Phoebe and Teddy when Gail had to leave to visit her mother. She is funny and smart and beautiful. Phoebe is more and more attached to Ana, so she was not sure how she would feel when Gail comes back and Ana probably has to go. Ana promised that she would always be there in Teddy and Phoebe's life so Phoebe felt better about it. And then Daddy said it too when he was doing science with Phoebe last week end.

Now, if Ana is Daddy's girlfriend, she will definitely be here forever, right? Phoebe thought so at first, but she is not so sure anymore, after thinking about it; her mommy was also Daddy's girlfriend a long time ago, and then she left. Could the same happen with Ana? Phoebe is determined to do everything she can so that Ana loves Daddy and Teddy and her forever and she never leaves.

For the very first time, Phoebe and Teddy asked questions to Daddy about their mommy. Phoebe often thinks about her mommy. And then, because Teddy asked questions about babies, Daddy talked about her, for the very first time. Daddy and their mommy made them with some eggs and some liquid, then they put them in their mommy's tummy. They stayed in there until they were ready to meet Daddy. Daddy says that their mommy loved them but she stopped loving Daddy so now she lives in another city.

Phoebe had many questions to ask Daddy, but he seemed so sad that Phoebe did not ask these questions. But she really wanted to know why her mommy doesn't come and visit Teddy and Phoebe if she loves them? Even just for their birthdays. She doesn't even call.

Also, there is something that Phoebe has had on her mind for some time. Teddy looks a lot like Daddy, except for his eyes. Phoebe has Daddy's eye color but she does not look like him. So she wonders if she looks like her mommy. Her mommy probably has blue eyes, and dark hair, Phoebe believes. Phoebe wonders if her mommy looks like Ana; she would love that, because Ana is very pretty. She would enjoy having a picture of her mommy but she does not dare ask her daddy.

And then the last question that Phoebe has is if Teddy and Phoebe could maybe go and visit their mommy in her new city. But Phoebe knows she will not ask that question to Daddy, it would make him look sad again, and she does not like it when Daddy is sad. Luckily, Daddy is less and less sad, and he is less often working in his office. Since Ana arrived, Daddy smiles all the time.

Uncle Elliot and Aunt Kate will have a baby soon. That was a very big surprise that they discovered during the big Treasure Hunt last weekend. It was so much fun, in particular when Phoebe played the piano; it is a very difficult piece that she learnt with Ana. Phoebe was very happy when she saw how Daddy was proud of her. She is looking forward to playing more pieces with her daddy like he promised. And maybe Ana will want to play with them.

Phoebe hopes that the baby Aunt Kate has in her tummy is a little girl, so she can play with her, and take care of her, when she gets out. Ana says that they still have a few months to wait to meet her, or him. Phoebe will ask Ana if they can buy a present for their cousin, for the first time they meet.

That same weekend, Phoebe enjoyed spending time alone first with Daddy, making science experiments, and then with Ana, baking together. But the best of all these moments is when they can be the four of them together: Teddy, Phoebe, Daddy and Ana.

Unfortunately, after that great week end of fun, Daddy had to leave again. Phoebe was sad when she woke up on Monday morning, when she realized that Daddy was no longer there. But as usual, Ana had lots of ideas of games and fun lessons, so in the end, she did not miss Daddy too much. Well, she missed him, but not as much as Ana did. Ana pretended that she was like usual but when she thought that Phoebe and Teddy were not looking, she looked upset. And when Daddy came back, Ana was happy again.

Phoebe knew that Ana was Daddy's girlfriend before Teddy announced it. Daddy is happier when Ana is in the room, like Ana is happier when Daddy is around. And several times, Phoebe saw them holding hands, and even kissing. Now Daddy holds hands with Ana without hiding. And Teddy told Phoebe that Daddy was asleep in Ana's bed this morning, with his arms around her.

This morning, Phoebe thought that having breakfast in bed was great, but what was even greater was the rest of the morning spent outdoors together. Last week, Teddy, Phoebe and Ana made birdseed dispensers for the little birds outside. So this morning, Teddy and Phoebe were very proud to see that some robins, sparrows and even a black-capped chickadee – Daddy had to check on the internet and Phoebe compared the picture and the bird on the oak tree to confirm these were the same birds – came and ate from the wooden dispensers.

For lunch, Daddy's steaks on the barbecue were even better than when Grandpa cooks it, but Teddy and Phoebe promised not to tell Grandpa, it is a secret shared with Daddy and Ana. Phoebe is looking forward to having a big barbecue dinner with everyone again, including aunt Mia and the little cousin when he or she is born.

After a short nap in the tent, outside, Phoebe and Teddy called Gail and Jason to wish them a happy Easter weekend. Daddy had to go to his office at home and he has been in there all afternoon and all evening, until dinner. Even when Ana and Teddy and Phoebe finished painting the Easter eggs. So Teddy and Phoebe painted eggs for Daddy. And even for the karaoke party with Aunt Mia, Aunt Kate, Uncle Elliot, Grandma and Grandpa.

Phoebe does not like it when Daddy spends too much time in his office. And often, when he comes back, he looks upset and he does not want to play anymore. Tonight, he was even more angry and sad than usual when he finally came back for dinner.

Even Ana was worried, she asked Daddy several times if he was okay, and Daddy said yes every time. But he had that smile on, the one that Phoebe knows means he is not okay. And he did not speak for the rest of the evening. He even did not come to say goodnight to Teddy and Phoebe.

Ana stayed a little longer tonight, reading two chapters of Harry Potter, and two chapters of Charlie and the chocolate factory, because she knows both Teddy and Phoebe love reading together at night. Even though tonight, it felt different without Daddy.

As she is about to fall asleep, Phoebe wishes that whatever made her Daddy angry and sad tonight will be over tomorrow so that they can have lots of fun searching for their Easter eggs together. And as she closes her eyes, she hears the door open and a voice she knows very well say "Good night my baby girl, Daddy loves you so much." With a smile on her face, Phoebe replies in her head "I love you too, Daddy".

Author's note: Thanks everyone for the nice reviews. Next chapter, we will understand what is going on with Christian.