Bare Feet
He'd taken Vanessa to visit Gracia; a weekly thing now since she loved playing with Elysia. Despite the age difference, they got along wonderfully. Vanessa was sitting in his lap, tugging on his hair, laughing as he tried not to grimace each time she pulled. He only barely noticed the thunder rumbling in the distance. He didn't bring a jacket for Vanessa; something Becky would surely kill him over later. At least she'd have a real reason to be angry for once. He tried to shield the child from the rain, but it wasn't working. "Nessa, are you cold?"
The child shook her head and looked up at the sky. "Adda."
"Yeah, it's raining. Ama would kill me if she knew I had you out here in this weather." He sheepishly smiled at his child, kissing her hair. "I'll get you home. I don't want you getting sick."
"Adda, no." When he stopped to see what she was on about, the child wiggled free of him and sat at his feet for a moment. She then pushed forward and stood up, holding her hands out. Her little palms opened and closed, enjoying the feeling of the rain. "Nice."
"Yeah, it is kind of nice, isn't it? Not so hot anymore." He smiled to his daughter. "You like the rain?"
She nodded and took her sandals off, finding the first puddle she could, stomping down in it. "Adda like?"
"Adda loves the rain," He watched her, not even caring that she was now barefoot and covered in mud. He didn't care that she would probably get sick. She was enjoying herself and he loved that. Her squeals of laughter kept him vigilant. "Like father, like daughter, I suppose."
"Adda. Play."
He shook his head, only to have her tug him forward until he came out of the chair, thumping onto the ground. "Nessa."
"Play. Adda likes rain. Play!"
"Maybe next time, kiddo. Come on. We have to go home. At least then you can play outside the house."
Several hours later, he was sitting on the porch with her curled up in his lap under a pink blanket. The two of them had fallen asleep listening to the rain, and he didn't even care that she was soaked to the gills. She was happy, and he was happy because she was.