Enchanted

Chapter 6

Mike was exhausted but was glad he didn't have to work. He could sleep in. He cuddled up to his pillow, finding his sweet spot and simply melted.

Three minutes later, Marla and Mina tiptoed in. They climbed into the bed with difficulty then went to their father. They threw themselves on his sleeping form.

He thought he was under attack and popped up. The girls screamed with laughter at his jumping up like a Jack-in-the-box.

"Wee!" Mina popped up, too.

His heart calmed. "What are you doing?"

"Hi, Daddy." Marla sat in his lap.

He chuckled. She got her complete disregard for his personal space from her aunts. "Hi, Mar."

Mina leaned on him. "Bibi."

"No. You can't have Bibi." They were trying to wean Mina off from her binky.

"Bibi!"

"Now stop that, jellyfish."

She began sniffling.

His heart turned to goo. "Alright. Let's go see if we can find a Bibi."

Marla was put out. She'd had to give up her binky by her sister's age.

Mike set them aside then stood up to pick up both. He went to scour the kitchen for a pacifier but came up empty-handed. "I'm sorry, Mimi. I don't see one."

Mina began crying.

He tried harder to find one but Tina must have thrown out all of Mina's. "How about we go take one from Cinco?"

Mina stopped crying. "Okay."

Marla was outdone. Really? They were going to steal one of Cinco's pacifiers?

They went back upstairs and saw Cinco was still asleep. With a binky in his mouth.

Mike was a little jealous (he was still tired). He went through the little boy's drawers and found an array of pacifiers. He picked up a random one and gave it to Mina.

Who put it in her mouth with a smile and sucked.

Marla was so mad. She stomped out to go to her room, where this blatant favoritism wasn't allowed.

Mike wondered what her problem was but Mina took his hand and pulled him out, intent on making him play tea party with her.

W

Mal took the kids to their different activities then came home to get started working on his photos.

A knock sounded on his darkroom so he turned and went to open the door. It was Ellen. "Hey?"

"Hi." She smiled.

"Do your parents know where you are?" Her parents weren't his and Marcy's biggest fans.

"Yes." She nodded once. "I told them this wasn't a phase, I'm not confused, it's what I want and I love you all."

He smiled. "Good."

"Are you working?"

"Yeah. Want to see?"

She nodded. "Is it professional?"

He brought her inside and closed the door. "Yes. I want to see what Mr. Anelli wants to feature so I'm just trying everything."

She went to where he'd been hanging dripping wet photos up. "I like this one."

It was a photograph of Marcy holding Ais after her birth. Both mom and baby had serene looks on their faces.

He smiled wide. "I love that picture. She hates it."