July

At the insistence of Beetlejuice's parents, he and Lydia brought their two children to their grandparents house for an afternoon. Other relatives would be visiting to meet Chazz for the first time and while neither Beetlejuice nor his daughter were enthusiastic about it, they went with only a few grumbles.

Beatie endured her relatives' hugs and kisses and cooing, then took her crayons and coloring book from the toybox Grampy had built for her; but she soon appeared bored and even unhappy, so Beetlejuice took her into the backyard to play for a while. Nat Juice had installed a swing set for her at the same time as the toybox and soon her Papa was pushing her 'way up high!' as she always demanded.

But her laughter was a trifle subdued and she soon tired of being swung and asked if they could go home yet.

"In just a little bit." Beetlejuice took her hand and led her back toward the house. "Mama said she wanted to take some pictures while we were here." He stopped and looked closely at her. "Is something wrong, Trix? You feeling okay?" He stooped down to look straight at her.

Beatie squirmed a bit, frowning. "I'm fine," she said unconvincingly. "Just . . . bored of the baby, I guess."

"Whoa. That sort of came out of nowhere." Beetlejuice settled on his haunches and took both Beatie's hands in his. "You're bored of the baby? You mean, you're . . . tired of having him around?"

"Yeah." Beatie frowned harder, thinking. "He's always there. He's . . . he's all you and Mama ever think about. I'm not sure I want to keep him, Papa."

Papa drew back a little at that and did some thinking of his own. "Well, I don't think we can take him back," he said slowly. "Besides, Mama sort of likes him, you know?" He thought some more, then stood, picked up his daughter and sat her in the crook of his arm. "I'm guessing that's the problem, actually. That Mama and I want Chazz, that we . . . you know, like him. A lot."

Her small arms went around his neck and she filled in the word he couldn't say. "You love him, Papa. Mama loves him, too, but I want you to love me."

"Oh, sweet chick, I do," he sighed. "I do, so much. And so does Mama." He snuggled her a little closer, then said, "Let me tell you something that you probably don't know. Okay?" He waited for her nod, then went on. "Mama and I wanted a baby, we wanted you, for a long, long time – years. But people, doctors, told us we were never going to have any kids. It made us so sad, Trix. It almost broke my heart. I thought I would never stop being sad about it. Then, one day, Mama told me we were going to have you." He paused and took a deep breath, then another before continuing. "I will always remember that day, will always remember the way I felt when I knew we would have you. I know you don't really understand how long we waited for you. How much we wanted you. But I used to dream about you – a beautiful, precious little girl with dark hair and eyes – my little girl."

Beatie was staring at him now, all her attention on what he was telling her.

"And when you were born . . . Chickie, my chick, my child," he kissed her temple, "I thought I would never feel like that again. My heart wanted to dance and sing, it wanted to cry, it wanted to hold you and kiss Mama and never stop. And then Chazz was born, and I felt the same way – no more and no less. My heart is big enough for two of you without taking anything of what I feel for you away." He took one of her hands and put it against his heart so she could feel it beating. "That heart beats for Mama, but it's big enough for you and for Chazz, too. Trix, do you understand what I'm saying?" He looked at her anxiously.

"You love me just as much," she whispered. "But, Papa, it doesn't seem like it."

Beetlejuice smiled at her sadly. "Maybe Mama and I haven't done a real good job of making sure you know how important you are to us. Maybe because Chazz needs more attention right now because he's so little and so helpless. You're getting to be a big girl now and can do things by yourself that he can't. We were sort of hoping, since you're older, that you might help us take care of him while he's so small. Would you like to do that? Big sisters are important people, you know." He kissed her again. "Oh, my jewel, my Trix. It's our fault that you don't know what we feel for you. If I promise to do better, will you forgive me?"

Beatie looked at him in surprise. "Papa! I know you love me. And Mama does. Can I just have some more 'tention from you? I . . ." she shyly tugged gently at his tie, "I miss you, Papa."

"Oh, yes. Oh, yes, you can 'cause I miss you, too, chickie. Maybe Mama and I can take turns taking care of each of our two kids, 'cause we feel the same way about both of you. And we always will."

Beatie tightened her grip around his neck and kissed his cheek and Beetlejuice wondered if his heart was big enough after all to hold all he felt.