“I’ve missed you so much B,” I say into her hair and she nods like she understand which makes me laugh, “I think I might just have to keep you here with me and not tell your Mommy and Daddy.”
She giggles and then I look up at Gerard who’s watching me with what looks like admiration. I think he wants to talk to me, too. “B, why don’t you go in the front room and watch TV ok? I’ll be there in a second.” I put her down on the floor and she runs into the front room, her pigtails moving with her bouncing body.
“You’re really great with her you know? I’m sure she loves you more than she loves me,” Gerard laughs and grins widely. We can hear the sound of the TV in the background.
“I doubt that Gee, you’re an awesome dad.” He smiles in gratitude.
“Lindsey told her not to ask about the kids Frank, but if she brings it up just tell her to drop it okay? You don’t have to talk about that with her,” Gerard says and then makes a face of remembrance. He hands me a large pink back-pack, and then a pizza box. “Lindsey also packed this, but I’m sure there are spare everything in here. There are probably snacks, two set of clothes, shoes and pyjamas. Because, and I quote, ‘Little girls make a mess sometimes Gerard, especially a child with half of your genes.’”
“She’s right, you know. You’re like a walking tornado of mess,” I smile.
“Thanks,” Gerard winks. “I’ll come pick her up in the morning, have a good night, call me if anything shitty happens, but I trust you with her and I always have.”
“Have a good night with your wife Gerard,” I say when he turns to leave the house. He looks at me with what seems to be pity and then flashes me a sad smile, shutting the door behind him. I go into the front room to find Bandit on the couch, staring at the TV that’s playing some kids show with fluffy monsters.
“Have you eaten yet Bandit?” I ask sitting next to her and putting the pizza box on my knee, she looks a little confused so I try again. “Did mommy give you food?” She shakes her head and I smile, “Would you like some cheese pizza?”
She grins and nods eagerly, her head flying up and down as her pigtails swish. “Cheese pizza is the best,” She states and then smiles a toothy grin at me. She has a missing tooth and I gasp.
“When did you lose a tooth?” I gasp, “That makes you a big girl!”
“I lost it yesterday, and I got money.” She sounds so proud that I hug her tightly with one arm. Then I open the pizza box and hand her a slice, not really caring if she gets it on the couch. I over-dramatically take a bite and hum, then say, “Yummy.” Bandit copies my action and we both laugh, she really is one of the best little girls in the world. She had such an awesome personality, a huge heart and even an apparent creativity. We both have a few slices of pizza before we feel full and I take the pizza box into the kitchen.
“Frankie?” Bandit calls from the front room. I don’t really feel like shouting so I walk back in the front room, standing at the door, my whole posture asking what she wants. “Will you play dolls with me? Mommy said you have a better Barbie voice than daddy. Daddy doesn’t do it like mommy does, but mommy said you would be able to do it.”
“Of course I will angel,” I smile at her and sit on the floor, picking her up off the couch and placing her on my knee. “Are the dolls in your bag?” When she nods I open the bag, the dolls being on the top. I hand her them both and while she’s busy tugging at the dresses that have been disturbed from the journey here, I check out the content of the bag. I find exactly what Gerard had said there would be – snacks and far too many clothes.
Chapter 3
Start from the beginning
