Shelter from the Storm
a/n this takes place soon after Zoe's fifth birthday. It is not a Christmas story. enjoy.
Chapter 48 ~ A Very Urgent Message to Santa
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"Daddydaddydaddy!"
"Hey baby." I scooped up my 5 year old little girl and tried not to wince at her shrill greeting. Zoë is very enthusiastic. Man, if you want unconditional love and you're allergic to dogs, a kid is great. Not that I'm allergic to dogs, Killer, you know I love you too, boy, right? The pug, nattily dressed in a shocking pink Coach logo harness and satin bow, looked puzzled but willing.
"Daddy! Pay attention. please!" Her little hand gently patted my cheek and I fixed my eyes on her same eyes and smiled at her. It still gives me a jolt to see this tiny person who looks like a girly version of me.
"Daddy, I am very very very good, right?"
"Uh huh." Except for the Russian hitman she brought home and blowing up that cake and scaring the FBI guys and...
"And I have a special list for Santa."
"Sweetheart, it's September 3rd, tomorrow is Labor Day—we just had your birthday, remember?"
"Daddy! That was a very long time ago. It was last summer."
"Last month, baby. Three weeks...not even. Two weeks ago."
"Last summer though."
"Okay," I sighed. "Tell me your Christmas list."
"Okay I want you to tell Santa NOW in case he needs to save up or get a second job or something so he can buy my present."
"Too much to hope you're gonna ask for something doable, like world peace?"
"What?"
"Nevermind, go on."
Zoë wriggled her 40 pound self around on my lap and finally extricated a colored newspaper flier from Target, like from the Sunday supplement, from the pocket of her tiny pink jeans. She smoothed it out and pointed her tiny finger. "Is that not awesome?" I was distracted by her fingernails which were elaborately manicured, painted bright rose pink with pearl white and brilliant neon yellow daisies. Zoë cocked her head.
?
"Your nails.
"Aunt Lula did them for me. We had a girly day. Can you pay attention, here, please, Daddy?"
"Well, since you said please..."
"Good. So lookit! Just looook!"
"Uh huh. So what am I looking at here, Zoë?" Her finger was on the hunting rifles, 25% off if you buy two guns until deer season starts and I was hoping...not.
She moved her hand, turned the page over and said, "It's, it's...a...pink...kitchen!" Reverent voice. "A real pink real kitchen! Made of real stuff, not a plastic Barbie kitchen! It has a real refrigerator for my sodas! And daddy! The oven works! And guess what! I can bake cupcakes! With 100% real, edible glitter sprinkles and butter cream frosting!"
"Cupcakes?"
"Yes!"
"Cupcakes?"
"Yes! And glitter. Ed-a-bull glitter! Is that not so perfect?"
"Perfect, baby." Just perfect.
the end, series tbc
[In the real world the appliances do not work but I am guessing Ranger can fix that!]