Thanks to trhodes9 for the diaper-destruction discussion ... Olive definitely appreciated it. All familiar characters are Janet's.
Olivia was enthusiastically scooting herself on her diapered-bottom across the section of floor between Bobby's boots when I made it back to the hotel. My daughter being like her mother, must have gotten impatient at not being able to move herself to her liking ... and improvised, using her legs and the momentum her flailing arms were generating, to navigate her current space. My entrance was silent, but everyone knew I was there as soon as a pair of beautiful brown eyes spotted me. My daughter made a beeline for her daddy, moving as fast as her legs and behind could get her.
"How's my girl?" I asked, as I scooped her up and kissed her innocent little face.
"Which one?" Brown asked. "I can say with complete authority that both females are a handful. The little one started doing that butt-shuffle-thing when I was trying to patiently explain again to the other one that you'd be fine even without her watching your back."
"Olive and I thank you for the compliment," Steph said. "It's not our fault that only certain men can handle us."
"There's only one man who can, Babe."
"Yep and I got him. I'm not sure if this is just a phase until the crawling kicks in, or if we're going to have to ask Ella to sew butt-protectors onto all Olive's clothes now. Hmmm, maybe we should just find a bunch of furry pants like her pink coat so we can cross sweeping the floors off our to-do list. I'm starting to get nervous now, because once she makes up her mind to do something ... there's no stopping her."
"I wonder who she got that particular trait from."
"Clearly from you. At least staring in awe at her got my mind off what could be happening to you. And I managed to get my phone pointed at her right after she started scooting, so you didn't miss it. Where's Cal? Am I going to be happy that you found Tipple so quickly?"
"Cal needed a minute ..."
"Which means what you walked into wasn't good," she stated.
"Let's just say that a trial won't be necessary," I told her, kissing Olive's fingers as she half-covered my lips with them while trying to tell me about her day. Luckily, unlike Stephanie ... Olivia will let me get away with a kiss, a few noises, and a grin, for answers to what she has to say. "I'll tell you about it later."
"Oh no."
"Tipple didn't deserve to live," I pointed out.
"I know, but the people he's hurt deserve to see him rot for it."
"The wife stepped out on him, and Henry cheated on his with her," Bobby reminded her. "These two murders, or at least Henry's, might not have happened if not for their affair. Tipple was dangerous as well as crazy, but Aubrey and the faithful husband she thought she had, could've been spared this."
"Believe me, I get that. You all know I hate guns, but I was seriously debating shooting Dickie. Thank God, I wasn't a bounty hunter then and didn't have a gun on me at the time ... or he and Joyce would've likely become plant fertilizer."
"I can still shoot him anytime," I offered. "Just give me the word."
She smiled. "It's wrong, but I still appreciate it every time you say that."
Olive laughed at something funny only to her, and her gummy smile lightened the mood. I felt even better when Cal knocked two minutes later.
"It's open," Steph called out.
"Why is the door unlocked?" Was what he asked, still battling multiple memories.
"Aside from having Terminator 1 and 2 here - so who'd be dumb enough to break in? - Ranger just got here himself and our daughter attacked him before he relocked it. You really don't have to worry, Olive can poke anyone's eye out if they get too close to her ... so we're safe."
"Can I test that theory?" Cal asked, glancing at my daughter, who looked especially enthralling wearing a coral-colored, flower-patterned jumpsuit now that completely covered her legs, but left her chubby arms bare.
"Yes. Just remember to bob and weave. Stephanie isn't kidding."
I kissed my daughter, passed her to her Uncle, and then reached for my wife. I have four Manoso women to center me when something like today happens. The least I can do is share my good fortune with my men who need them, too.
