The Magpie's Death

Matato (Epilogue)

Pushing the single, ripe tomato and perfectly round, white potato forward across the kitchen island, Leo took a deep breath.

"Tomato," he instructed, slowly lifting the red fruit. "Potato," he followed, doing the same to the smooth tuber.

"Matato."

His head dropped and his teeth clenched.

Keep it together, Leo. It's not her fault. It's not her fault.

"Dada?" Glancing up, Ellie's giant blue eyes were staring at him. "You okay?"

Except there was a good possibility it was her fault and she was just being stubborn. It was impossible to tell. At this point, he was starting to not give a damn whether she could say 'tomato' or 'potato.' Actually, she could mispronounce or refuse to say every word in the English language and he would be fine with it.

"Dada?" she asked again, her head tilting at his silence and reddening face. Then her hand reached out, giving the fingers resting on the potato a comforting pat.

A light chuckle drifted in from the foyer doorway. He turned to see Jack, arms crossed, wearing a cheerful grin. Both the sound and the expression were teasing, but there was too much sweetness in it for Leo to care.

"At it again?" Jack didn't wait for a response and held up a stack of cards that had been hiding between his elbow and chest. "Would you like some help?"

That didn't need an answer either. He took the stool next to Leo, giving his back a quick rub before placing the cards on the polished wood.

"Ellie, sweetie, can you hand me the tomato?" That was an easy request. She took the fruit from under Leo's hand and pushed it over to her dad. "Now, can you tell me what this is called?"

"Matato," she declared, flashing him a dimpled smile.

Leo huffed a quiet laugh at her. It had been two months, but he still wasn't used to seeing his daughter wear such bright expressions. His corners of his mouth curled upward. It was hard to believe that this was his life. His family. Every day would be like this. Boring, tedious, domestic, normal. Wonderful.

Jack shook his head and took a bite, then handed it over to her. She opened wide and bit a large chunk. Juice and seeds ran down her chin, making her giggle.

"It's a to-may-to," Jack explained, taking the cards and placing them in a row in front of her. Each contained a picture.

He pointed to the first, showing a picture of a big toe. "Toe."

"Toe," Ellie repeated, messily wiping the food from her face with her sleeve.

Jack pointed to the next, showing a calendar with May circled. "May."

"May," Ellie said, her eyes darting to the card and then back to him.

The final card was a copy of the first. "Toe."

"Toe."

All in a row, Jack pointed and deliberately enunciated, "Toe. May. Toe."

"Toe. May. Toe." Ellie copied it perfectly and smiled at her success, making both Jack and Leo smile back.

Pointing to the tomato in Ellie's hand, Leo said, "Tomato."

"Matato."

His head fell to the counter again, this time actually hitting it in his frustration.

Jack placed a hand on his shoulder and sighed. "Enough for today. Ellie, sweetie, will you go watch the desk while your dada and I clean up?"

"Kay!"