I'm not a puppy! (age regression)

20. Bit of a fun break

I went on, simply telling him that Jamie got very upset over an accident last night, had some sort of panic attack, we went to Perry and now our situation has rather drastically changed.

I paused in my ramblings to check behind me to see if Jamie was somehow sneaking up on me.
"Andy, you still there?'
I tuned back into the call.
"Yeah yeah I was just checking if Jamie had moved"
"Oh?"

I brushed it off
"It's fine, I can hear paw patrol, nothings moving them
"They like paw patrol?"
"Yeah, why?"
"No reason, just taking a note"

I listened as tom scribbled down an actual note
"So their openly watching the kiddy shows now?"
"Well not really, it's more- no, I'm not saying anything else over the phone"
"Andrew I'm sitting in an empty break room, no one can hear us!"

"It doesn't matter tom this is big, I'll just tell you this-"
I pushed down my admittedly rather large fears of some sort of evil person listening in and coming for Jamie, in hopes of properly stopping toms begging"
"They are regressing tom, it's really complicated and I promise I'll give you more details when I see you. I just don't feel right saying more without having you here"

Tom stopped the pestering, finally respecting that I wasn't gonna talk about it.
"Wow, that's-"
He stopped, really not knowing what to say.
"I'm sorry ands, this is a bit dickish of me calling you like this. You sound stressed man"

I sighed.
"Yeah, I am. But we've got stuff under control"
"Im busy tomorrow but I'll be up to you as soon as I can. Problem shared is a problem halfed"
He awkwardly put out the proverb and I chuckled.
"Thanks man, were actually booked back in to see Dr egg for Friday. So I'd recommend avoiding the house around then. But literally any other time come up, I need to talk to you properly, so I can threaten you face to face"

Tom laughed.
"Of course. Oh I meant to ask yesterday, how's your leave time going with work"
"I'm starting to get more firmly worded emails so I really can't be out much longer"
Tom got a bit excited, obviously happy he could give me advice. He loves giving me advice.
"So I thought of this yesterday and it was only a possibility but if Jamie is actually regressing as you say. You can get paternity leave"

I widened my eyes and exclaimed.
"God, I can't believe I never thought of that! I don't know how much I can get or what I need to prove or-"

Tom cut me off
"Andrew you've got too much going on, I'll do all the research into your paternity leave and get you sorted out. Don't worry about it man"
I sighed in relief
"Thanks Tom"
"It's no problem, im happy to. Give Jamie a hug for me, sounds like you both need it"
I laughed
"Will do"

We chatted a little longer before tom was called away and we said our goodbyes. I stared off at the sky for second, definitely glad to have talked to him.

Id been a bit closed off from the world since Jamie arrived, Tom really being the only one who knew anything. I was looking forward to seeing him again.

I got up off the garden cahir and walked back in through the kitchen. I lingered at the door of the sitting room door for a moment, listening. It didn't sound like paw patrol was on anymore, so I stepped in

Jamie was grooving with June to music from the tv but blushed once they saw me, quickly insisting.
"The tv broke again!"
The tv now showed a different cartoon, it still had dogs, but it was instead a family all dancing together. I watched the intro till the shows name appeared.

"Bluey huh, the tv really likes dog shows, I think it's got good taste"
Jamies eyes lit up a little as they excitedly nodded.
"Puppys are good"
I raised them
"Puppys are fantastic"