Fate || BENNIFER

Lunchtime

Jennifer's P.O.V

Lunchtime had become an exciting and unpredictable affair for us. Ever since Grace had started on solid foods, our kitchen had become a fun place. Although we didn't always succeed with our food choices, we never gave up. Day after day, we persisted in introducing new flavors and textures to our little one.

Nestled in her father's arms, Grace gurgled with excitement as she watched me prepare her meal. Today's experiment included avocado and mashed potatoes, two very different options that held the promise of either delight or disdain.

With a gentle hand, Ben settled her into her high chair, her big, curious eyes taking in the scene around her. He then secured a colorful baby bib around her neck, ensuring that her clothes remained clean during the culinary adventure.

As I placed the small bowl of avocado in front of Grace on the chair's table, her eyes widened. To her, the contents in front of her resembled a toy more than actual food. She reached out her tiny hands, trying to grasp the colorful pieces of avocado, but her coordination was still a work in progress.

With tender patience, I gently guided a spoonful of avocado to her mouth. Her little mouth opened, revealing a cute toothless grin as the avocado touched her lips. Grace's face scrunched up in a comical expression as she tasted the unfamiliar flavor. The avocado's creamy texture seemed to surprise her, and she promptly spat it out, causing us to burst into laughter.

Undeterred, we decided to try another spoonful, hoping that her initial reaction was simply a matter of adjustment. But the second attempt elicited the same response, with Grace shaking her head and pushing the spoon away. It seemed that avocado wasn't going to be a favorite for now.

"It looks like she's not a fan of avocado just yet." Ben chuckled, wiping a stray smear of green from Grace's cheek.

"Let's try something else." I said as I set aside the bowl of avocado and reached for the mashed potatoes.

In a quick switch, I scooped up a small portion of mashed potatoes and offered it to her. The transformation in her expression was immediate, and she wanted to try it for herself. With a gentle guiding, she managed to bring the food to her mouth, smearing a bit of mashed potatoes on her face in the process.

The moment the potatoes touched her tongue, her face lit up with delight, and a contented smile spread across her face. She let out a happy babble, her approval evident in the way she opened her mouth for another bite.

Ben and I exchanged a smile. We had succeeded in finding something that Grace enjoyed, a small victory.

Ben looked at me, a mischievous smile on his face as he picked up the avocado bowl. I watched the scene unfold while he earned giggles from Grace. Deciding to take a step further, he grabbed a piece of avocado and pretended to eat it with exaggerated delight. He smacked his lips and let out an exaggerated "Mmm!" Grace's eyes widened, captivated by her father's performance. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she watched him, curious about what seemed so fascinating.

She reached out her tiny hands towards the bowl of avocado. Her fingers wiggled with anticipation as she clumsily dipped them into the green mush. With a triumphant look, she smeared the avocado all over her hands, getting it everywhere except her mouth.

But as soon as she had her fingers near her face and could smell it, she realized what it was and her expression changed. Her eyes welled up with tears, and her bottom lip quivered. A look of confusion and disappointment washed over her face. She began to cry, her tiny sobs quickly turning into a full-blown cry.

"Oh no." I rushed to scoop her up from the high chair. "Daddy just wanted to make you laugh."

"I'm sorry." Ben reached out to kiss her head, and her cries began to subside.

"It's alright." I said as I bounced her up and down. "Daddy's a funny guy."

I watched as Ben contorted his face into the funniest expressions. At first, Grace seemed perplexed, her eyes widening as she gazed at her father's antics. But then, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. I couldn't help but giggle at his silly sounds. The room erupted with her adorable laughter, the infectious sound causing Ben to join in.