REDAMANCY [h.s. au]

36

No quote for this one!
*some talk of tough parental relations

⭑Holland⭑

"Ivy! Your snack is ready!" I yell into the stale, humid air that engulfs the flat. Fanning myself with my hand, I bring the plate of snack foods—some cut strawberries and a scone with jam on it—to the table.

She comes running in with a burst of energy from the other room, squealing and giggling with her usual infectious energy that I adore so much. "Thank you!" She exclaims at me.

She plops herself on the chair and starts stuffing her mouth as I do the dishes. Harry is still at work, something about a parent of one of the more unruly kids wanted a meeting with him, so I'm at his flat watching Ivy until he gets back.

"When's daddy coming home?" She asks me, a mouth full of scone.

"He should be back soon," I tell her over my shoulder.

He didn't give a specific time, so that's the best answer I can give her.

It seems to suffice for her, though, because she just hums and then goes back to eating and swinging her legs back and forth that dangle high above the ground.

I finish up the dishes and climb into a chair next to Ivy. I made myself a cup of tea, but I quickly push it away as it's too hot out to be drinking a warm beverage. That was a stupid mistake on my part.

So Ivy and I sit. She's so quizzical and smart, I sometimes forget she's only 3–well almost 4. I love hearing her talk about her day or ask me questions about the most random things. It's like having a tiny best friend.

"Bella from school has a brand new baby brother!" She tells me with animation.

"That's so cool! Do you know what his name is?" I ask enthused.

"I forget," she giggles. "I want a baby brother, too."

Not only has Harry talked about us having kids one day, but now Ivy is requesting a sibling. I still don't know if I'm quite ready for that. I still want to make up for lost time with just Harry. And Ivy, of course. But the idea of that happening one day does make me more and more excited. But also terrified. I want to be able to give both of them that, so it is a nagging thread of a thought that sometimes will creep into my mind of what if I can't? Or what if it takes a long time? What if we have issues? I try not to bombard my mind with it right now. It's not an immediate problem so why worry myself with it.

"Oh, do you now?" I confirm with a laugh.

"Yes! It'd be so fun!" She flings her small arms into the air, scattering scone crumbs all over.

"What about a baby sister? Or only a baby brother?"

"Just a brother. No sister," she tells me sternly which makes me laugh.

"Okay, I'll remember that," I oblige her.

She goes on to tell me about a book her teacher read them at school about dinosaurs and then veers off talking about how she wants to make chocolate chip cookies with me and her dad soon.

Our chitchat is interrupted by a loud knock on the front door. "No one's supposed to be coming over," I mutter to myself. "Maybe a package delivery or something."

"Stay right here," I tell Ivy as I strut across the kitchen and into the living room, crossing the threshold that leads into the small hallway to the front door. It's times like these I really wish Harry's
door had a small window on it so I could at least see who or what I'm opening the door up to.