“All set?” He asked her.
“Yuppers! Let’s go home!” She said.
He got into the drivers side and started the car, and started the drive home. The pulled up into the driveway and the man turned off the truck and got out, making sure to grab the bag before he went over to the other side to unbuckle his daughter. He picked her up, shut the door and carried her inside. They both kicked off their shoes and took off their coats.
“Daddy I’m wet.” She said.
“I know that Paigey, I will be there in a sec to put on a diaper,” he said.
“Awe, big girl panties pleaseee?” She asked.
“No, not right now, you will fall asleep soon,” he told her.
“Nuh-uh I won’t!”
“Yes you will,” he replied.
“Nooo! I promise!”
“Sorry hunnie, but I know you too well, let’s go.”
He followed his daughter to her room and she sat on her pink bed spread. He went to her top drawer of her dresser and pulled out wipes, powder and a diaper. She pulled down her pants for him and he ripped the sides of her princess pullup and took it off. He wiped her and then spread the diaper under her, then applied powder and pulled it up between her legs, and taped it up.
“Do you want something warmer to wear?” he asked her.
“My Mickey Mouse suit!” She said.
The man went to her dresser again, this time the bottom drawer, and got a pink Mickey Mouse sweater and jogging pants. He brought it over to her and pulled her pants completely off, making sure her socks were still on. She sat up and he lifted off her shirt.
“Where’s Paigey?” He asked.
“Right here daddy!” She giggled from under her shirt.
The man pulled it all the way off, and then said, “There she is!”
The little girl lifted her arms up and he put the sweater on her, and then the pants.
“Okay all done!” He said. “Want to watch a movie?”
“Yeah! I wanna watch the Chipmunks Santa one!”
“Okay, lets go,” he said, throwing the diaper in the garbage pail, and then throwing her clothes into the hamper. He lifted her up and carried her down the hall to the living room, and sat on the couch, with Paige in his lap. She handed the remote to him and he turned on the TV, and then the VCR, and the movie started playing. About half way through the little girl shifted her body so she was looking at him.
“Daddy?” She asked the man.
“Yes sweetie?”
“Are you gonna love me all the time?” She asked.
“Of course! I will love you forever and ever, you know that. Why?”
“Becuase Lisa said her daddy left her becuase he didn’t love her or her mommy, and I don’t want you to leave me ever.”
“I won’t, don’t worry, and Lisa’s daddy does love them, he just made bad choices.” He said.
“Well what about Jenna?” She asked.
“Jenna lives with her mommy and daddy,” he said.
“But when she goes on the phone she says she hates them, and I don’t wanna hate you ever!”
“Jenna’s a teenager, all teenagers say that sometimes, even though they don’t mean it.”
“But everytime she babysits she says it!”
“She doesn’t mean it,” he said.
“Will I ever say that? Becuase I don’t wanna.” The little girl stated.
“Well, you might, but I know you won’t mean it,” he replied.
“I won’t ever say it though unless I really mean it, and I won’t, so I don’t gotta ever say it!”
“That’s good baby.” He said to her.
The man cradled her in his arms as she started to doze off. He took one of her red curls and played with it until she finally fell asleep.
“I love you Paigey, don’t ever change.” He whispered to the sleeping figure in his arms. He kissed her on the forehead and dozed off himself.
“PAIGE! PAIGE!” I heard, I opened my eyes to see my dad standing over me.
“Huh? What just… where…. are you…. what time is…. where are we!?” I asked, confused.
“In Walmart, you just passed out, are you alright?” He said with a concerned look on his face, he looked close to tears.
“Yeah…” I said.
He held out his hands and lifted me up.
“Okay well, you go do your thing, I will just… wait in the car.” He said with a hurt look on his face, turning away from me.
“Wait!” I said to him.
“Daddy?” I said.
“Yes…” he said with a confused look on his face.
“I love you, so much, and I don’t hate you, daddy, I’m sorry.” I said as I walked towards him with my arms open. He walked closer and I gave him a big hug, and didn’t want to let go.
“I know baby, I know you love me, I love you too.” He said, as I started to cry.
“Shhhh, it’s okay, it’s okay.” He comforted as he rubbed my back.
“Let’s get home,” I said to him.
“Okay, let’s go.”