it had been 5 months after the accident. i got my brace off my leg about 2 months ago. brookes neck brace came off last week. it's september now and i've decided i wanna send her to preschool. it'll give carmen a break when i'm at work.
josh: hey. wake up.
i kiss brookes forehead as she slowly wakes up.
josh: come on we gotta get you dressed for preschool. she looks at me confused but let's me dress her anyway.
•••
her and i ate, and now we're driving to the preschool.
josh: your gonna make some friends
brooke: wha bout you daddy?
i laugh.
josh: i have friends baby. and i've gotta go to work
we pull up. i get brooke out of her car seat, carrying her in. the teacher shakes my hand.
mrs gale: hey! welcome welcome!
josh: hello. josh richards *smiles
mrs gale: and who is this??
josh: this is brooklyn. say hi brookie
brooke: hi
for some reason she's being really shy. she's never shy. like- ever. the teacher goes off to greet other people. i set brooke down and crouch down in front of her.
josh: ok so i've gotta get to work-
brooke: you weaving??
josh: ya kiddo i'm leaving. i'll pick you up when i'm done working.
she begins to cry and i hug her.
josh: hey hey why are you crying??
brooke: d- don't weave me pwease
josh: i promise that i'll pick you up-
brooke: b- b- but daddy-
josh: what have i told you about arguing with me?
she looks at me with her big sad puppy dog eyes.
josh: whenever i get you later, we're gonna go out to dinner with grammy pappap liv and will alright? i'll even let you get icecream too if you be good for your teacher today
she sniffles and nods.
josh: that's my girl
i hug her and she kisses the corner of my mouth causing me to laugh.
josh: i'll see you later. i love you
brooke: wuv you too
i kiss her head and then stand up. on my way to the door, someone walks in. wait i know her.
jess: ahhh so your here *laughd
her daughter stella runs off to play.
josh: ya dropped brooke off *laughs
jess: the two of them already don't like eachother and now they have to see j ok me another every day *laughs
josh: maybe they'll get over it. it was just a stupid toy
jess: anyways. you wanna maybe go get a coffee together?
josh: sorry. i'm late for work. i'll see ya later
i go get in my car when i realize. i'm not let for work. i'm the fucking boss and i don't have any meetings today. was she asking me out??? dammit! i'm such an idiot. what is wrong with me?
•••
after picking brooke up from preschool, she is like attached to me. she made me carry her because she wanted a hug. i try to put her in her car seat but she doesn't wanna go in.
josh: what did we talk about brooklyn? we said if your good, you get icecream. your not being very good right now
she continues to scream and cry for no apparent reason. i just buckle her in anyway and then drive to the restaurant where we're meeting my family. by the time we got there, i was so pissed off. brooke is still crying and i have no clue why.
josh: listen to me. you cannot cry in here. there are other people in there eating. you have to be good.
she sniffles and i get her out of her car seat. i lift her into my arms and lock the car. as soon as i'm holding her, she stops crying. we go in and go to the table my family is at. olivia stands up and holds out her arms for brooke. but brooke won't move from my arms.
josh: brooke that's not nice. let aunt liv hold you
she doesn't say anything.
liv: it's fine josh *laughs
i sit down and try to set brooke on her own chair but she is holding onto me tightly. after we order, i finally get brooke to sit in her booster seat next to will. i give her my phone to play games on to keep her occupied.
michelle: is she alright?
josh; i don't know. she's just been really clingy lately. everytime i try to do something and leave her alone for a minute she flips out.
i shrug.
•••
after we eat brooke looks up at me.
brooke: icecweam?
josh: maybe another night. you were being bad in the car
her eyes start to water.
brooke: b- b- but-
josh: no brooklyn.
i hate being mean with her but she's just on my last nerve today. she beings to cry. great. i pick her up and she holds onto me, but she's still loudly crying. at this point, people have begun to look over at us.
josh: i'm sorry
i apologize to my parents. i end up just paying them for me and brookes dinner and then taking her to the car. the whole way home she obnoxiously cries while i just don't say a word. once we got home, i carried her in but still didn't speak to her. we go to her room and i tuck her in before going towards the door.
brooke: daddy?
i sigh a bit.
josh: ya?
brooke: i sowwy
josh: it's alright munchkin
i go kiss her head and lay with her til she's asleep.
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