"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 83 - "Dolls..."

Chapter 83 - "Dolls..."

Clara's PoV

'Look all you have to do is choose out two outfits each? Some shorts and t shirts! Because it might be December here but it's quite warm in LA' I said as I lost the girls almost immediately.

Everyone was sort of coming up better and the illness was passing. John was still looking a little queasy though.

Either way after the discussion we had made an agreement to just stay in LA for the week - and I had organised a small surprise.

I know that David still hates me but I've managed to arrange for them to meet us half way. Mainly because they'll be able to drive to a different state and fly from there.

They said they would be here in a couple of days so John would get to spend time with them for at least three days still. And if he decided that he wanted to go back to Chicago with them - then so be it.

'Mummy look' Poppy said grabbing my hand and dragging me towards the big window with loads of dolls in it.

'What?' I hummed.

'Look is dollies. You can dress them up and do their hairs and stuff' she explained to me but that seemed pretty normal for all dolls.

I looked at John who shrugged his shoulders when she was desperate to go in the shop, and we quickly lost Avia and Evie to the historical section of the shop. I trusted them not to wander too far and they both have phones - actually Evie has a phone.

Avia still doesn't. I wonder when John was going to apologise to Avia?

John was still looking a little worse for wear in his hoodie and trainers, pushing Henry in the buggy.

He walked most of the time now but sometimes these days we use him as an excuse to take the buggy for Poppy to sleep in if she gets too exhausted.

'Can we have a look?' She begged with battered eyelashes as John grunted at the idea of a dolls shop but it was amazing.

Each doll had their own back story and history and favourite sports, you could even bring the doll in and have the dolls ears pierced and hair cut and styled. It was odd but cool.

I lifted her up to carry her and she took and immediate liking to one particular doll and I couldn't work out why.

I dropped her to the ground again as she went to have a look at all the outfits.

'They are cool' I said as I touched one of the dolls hairs.

'You just want her to have one so you can play with it? That's all it is' he scoffed.

'No. I think she deserves one. She has been really good and still has a long way to go. The doll might comfort her?' I said and he couldn't argue with that.

'Daddy this is borwing. I'm hungwy' Henry whined pulling at John's top.

'In a minute buddy' John scowled.

'Okay. If she wants a doll let her have one' John said rolling his eyes as he looked at the price of them and scoffed. '100 dollars for a doll?'

'It'll be worth it to see the smile on your little girls face?' I grinned running after her to help her choose the perfect doll and outfits.

'What's that look for?' John hummed as he felt his bank account run dry when Evie and Avia looked at him with puppy dog eyes.

'We like the dolls Daddy'

'Your joking right?' He scoffed. 'Don't you think you're other a bit old for dolls?'

'No. It says 4 - 12. She's 9. And I just like the history one to have for display? Please?' Avia said with battered eyelids as John didn't know quite what to do.

He was stuck in a corner and he was sick so he didn't really have a whole lot of argue or fight in him. So he rolled his eyes. '1 doll and one outfit each' he scoffed as they ran off and John found Clara and Poppy at the window glass. 'Anything else comes out of your own money' he yelled.

'I like that one' she smiled pointing at the one with brunette hair that was long and wavy, wearing thick black glasses and brown eyes. She was quite tanned and was wearing a pair of leggings with brown boots and a leather jacket.

It's no wonder they are so expensive? Leather jackets?

'You can pick three outfits' John sighed, as she picked a really cute nature outfit, a really nice dress and an astronomy nerdy outfit.

This kid was so much like her nerdy father it was a joke.

'Don't you want one to look a little more like you?' I suggested pointing at the doll with lighter hair.

'No. I want this one' she said stubbornly like a spoilt princess.

'All right. If that's the one you want' I said rolling my eyes as she looked so happy holding the box.

'Yeah. She looks like you mummy' Poppy said in a squeak as I was gob smacked. I had never had a child or anybody that thought that highly of me. But it made sense.

I hadn't been properly to a chemo session with her yet and I wouldn't be able to go to a lot more with the pregnancy and everything now - so she might have felt like having a doll who looks like me is good? Make her feel like I'm there?

'John why are then two holding a doll and an outfit?' I hummed.

'Ugh. Don't even go there' he said rolling his eyes.

- - -

It was cute to watch the three of them with the dolls.

Avia was sort of past dolls age but there was still a little child in her that like the doll and doing her hair and dressing her up in the clothes.

Poppy was just an excited little puppy with the doll and literally was taking her from room to room.

She even came for dinner with us.

'Well. 600 pound later and I suppose at least their happy?' John said rolling his eyes.

'We'll have to find something nice for henry' I said as he wasn't overly bothered playing with his Lego.

We had bought him another small Lego toy just to keep him entertained for now.

'Eh. What he doesn't know won't hurt him'