Page 34 of C is for Comfort

Spence:What did you mean?

Corey:I can’t go out on a whim. Lexi.

Spence:The offer’s there.

8

Corey

“Daddy!” Lexi rushes to hug me as soon as she and Blake get home, though she’s careful not to knock her cast.

“Did you have a good morning?” I ask, ruffling her hair.

“The best! We saw a film, and I had popcorn and a slushy. Is my tongue still blue?” She sticks her tongue out.

“A little.”

“Then we went for ice cream, and I had one that was as big as my head!”

I raise an eyebrow at Blake. How much sugar has my brother fed my daughter today?

“Then we went to McDonald’s, and I had a Happy Meal and got a toy.” She produces a mini plushie from her pocket. It’s a little red bird that I think is supposed to be a phoenix. “There’s six to collect. Can we go again? Can we? Can we?”

“Maybe,” I say noncommittally.

“Then we went to the playground,” Lexi carries on. “And Uncle Blake pushed me on the swing and the round-a-bout.”

“We were careful,” Blake says quickly.

There must have been a panicked look in my eyes or something.

“I’m glad you had fun, pudding.”

“Can I watch TV?”

I should probably say no, seeing as she’s already watched a film today, but I need to talk to Blake. “Okay. One episode of something and then it’s homework time.” I might as well put her excess sugar energy to good use.

She clasps her hands behind her back. “Twoepisodes?”

“One.”

Lexi pouts. “Please?”

Blake sniggers behind her.

I sigh. “Fine. Two episodes.”

“You’re the best, Daddy!” She smacks a sloppy kiss to my cheek and skips into the living area.

“Thanks for taking her out,” I say to Blake. “I know you’re not exactly a morning person.”

“Truer words have never been spoken,” Blake says. “Getting up and out to the cinema by nine was hard work.”

I chuckle. “I appreciate it.”

He narrows his eyes. “Okay, what do you want?”

“Nothing.” That’s a lie.