Chapter 10

"Hanna, I told you not to do that again."

"Daddy, I'm sorry!"

He put Neal in his swing and turned back to his youngest daughter.

Hanna slowly back away from him. "I didn't mean to."

"Come here, please."

Hanna shook her head and continued to back away a little faster.

David was able to easily reach her before she got too far away and quickly picked her up.

"Put me down." Hanna pushed against his chest, trying to release herself from his grip.

"Hanna, stop. Let Mommy wipe your face."

Hanna stayed still while her mom cleaned all of the popsicle juice off of her.

David still held Hanna in his arms once Snow finished.

"Now can you put me down?" Hanna asked.

"Nope." He carried her across the room and placed her in the chair that sat in the corner.

"What are you doing?" Hanna asked.

"You're sitting in time-out."

"No I'm not." Hanna got down from the chair.

"I told you if you continued to jump from the stools you would be in trouble." David picked her up and placed her back in the chair.

"I am not a baby, and I am not sitting in time-out." Hanna got down from the chair again. She put her hands on her hips and stared up at him

David didn't say a word. He just picked up Hanna again, and placed her back onto the chair.

Hanna got up again, but this time she raced for the stairs. She made it up the first three steps before her dad grabbed her around the middle. "Stop it!" Hanna wiggled herself, trying to get free. "It was just my stupid toddler brain. I won't do it anymore." Hanna found herself back in the chair though. She looked up at him. "Dad! I don't want to sit here!" He just turned and walked away. Hanna used her sleeve to wipe the tears from her eyes. She wanted to get down again, but she knew he would just put her back. "Dad…Dad!" Hanna called for him over and over again, but he didn't answer, so she pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms. Hanna felt more like her regular self right now, and didn't like being treated like a little kid. She felt stupid sitting in time-out, but she also knew her dad was just going to keep putting her back in the chair, so she might as well just sit here and get it over with.

After what felt like forever, Hanna heard someone walking towards her. She lifted her head and saw her Dad.

David kneeled down in front of her. "Can you tell me why you had to sit here?"

Hanna sighed. "Because I jumped off the stool."

"And why can't you jump off the stool?"

"You think I'll get hurt."

"I know you will. So no more, okay?"

Hanna nodded.

"Good." David stood and reached out is hand. "How about we go play with your brother and sister?"

Hanna shook her head. "I don't want to play with you."

David sighed.

Hanna scooted herself off the chair and went to her mom, who was in the kitchen washing dishes. Hanna leaned against her leg.

"Hey you." Snow reached down and rubbed her back. "Why don't you go play while I finish these dishes?"

"No."

"I think you'll have more fun playing."

"I'm not a little kid. I don't like playing."

"Okay, would you like to help me with the dishes?"

Hanna nodded.

Snow picked Hanna up and sat her on the counter. Then she handed her a towel. "How about you dry?"

"Okay."

Snow pulled a clean plate from the sink and reached it out towards Hanna. "Just be careful. They're a little slippery when they're wet."

"I know." Hanna helped her mom with dishes hundreds of times. She took the plate and began to dry it. Her hands were smaller now and this was a lot harder than she was use to. She almost dropped the plate a few times before getting it dry. She set the plate down and picked up another one.

"Mom?"

"Hmm?"

"How much longer do you think this is going to last?"

"I'm not sure sweetie."

Hanna sighed.

"What is it?"

"It's just…it's weird. It's like there's two of me inside my head. I know I shouldn't jump from the stools. I tried to stop, but I couldn't. The real me was saying stop and the toddler version told me to just jump. It was so confusing. My toddler side keeps winning."

"I know this is hard. Your dad does too."

"Then maybe he shouldn't have put me in time out."

"It is dangerous for you to be jumping off of things at your size. You're not as coordinated and…"

"I know. I know, but still."

"Well, maybe next time the toddler part of your brain wants to jump, she'll remember that a time out will be waiting for her afterwards." Snow gave Hanna a nudge.

Hanna rolled her eyes. "Maybe…"

"We're just trying to keep you safe, baby." Snow reached down and kissed the top of her head. "Is that the last plate?"

"Yeah, here." Hanna gave the plate to her mom and waited on the counter while she put it away. She figured she shouldn't try to hop down herself. She glanced towards the sink and the bubbles caught her eye. They looked so pretty. She reached her finger towards one and popped it. Hanna smiled, then popped another one. She looked towards her mommy to make sure she wasn't looking before scooping up a handful. She moved her hand close to her face and opened her mouth and blew the bubbles back into the sink. She reached her hand in to do it again. This time she got a bigger handful. She opened her mouth and sucked in even more air this time so the bubbles would go faster. She blew them again. This time some of them flew over the sink and landed on the counter. Hanna eagerly used both hands to scoop up even more.

"And just what do you think you're doing?" Snow asked. She placed her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows playfully.

Hanna looked up at her mommy and grinned. "Watch how far they go, Momma!" Hanna sent the bubbles flying again and began to giggle.

Snow couldn't help but laugh herself. "Wow!"

"You try now!" Hanna looked into the sink, but all the bubbles were gone. "Can we put more soap in?"

"We can play with the bubbles next time." Snow picked Hanna up from the counter. "How about we go see what everyone else is up to?"

"Okay!" Hanna wiggled down from her mommy's arms and ran into the living room. "Hi, Daddy!"

David caught Hanna in his arms. "Hi princess. Did you and Mommy get all the dishes clean?"

"Uh huh! What are you doing?"

"Well your sister had an idea…"

Hanna peered around her Daddy and her face lit up when she say what Emma was doing.