The Wish List

A Sad Story

"Daddy! Can you tell us a story?"

Stephanie cocked her head to the side, flashing Ty her toothy grin, revealing the gap of one of her front teeth missing.

"I'm too old for stories." Tessie commented, cockily. She was running a hand through her thick, long brown hair, her eyes flickering back and forth between Ty and her younger sister.

"Too old for stories, eh?" Ty said, cocking an eyebrow at our twelve year old daughter. She nodded, setting her phone down and smiling at him.

"Yeah, Dad. All the stories you tell are so unrealistic." She responded. I saw Ty flinch a little at the words, his eyes falling on the floor for a moment. I was about to walk over and comfort him, but Stephanie launched herself into his arms before I could, giggling.

"I love your stories, Daddy! Tessie just doesn't understand because she a big kid." I saw Tessie roll her eyes at the six year old's comment, a smile still playing on her lips.

"Mom? Are you gonna come sit with us?" Tessie asked, scooting over so I could sit on the bed beside her. I nodded, shifting Stephen in my arms, careful not to wake him.

"Mommy!" Steph squeaked, climbing back on to the bed and curling up beside me, staring at Ty.

"You woke up Stephen!" Tessie snapped at her younger sister. I saw Steph recoil a little bit, her big blue eyes glistening with tears.

"I'm sorry." I reached over and ran my hand through her hair, caressing her cheek.

"Tess, apologize for snapping." Ty looked at her, anger flickering in his eyes.

"No." She shrugged, "I didn't do anything wrong, Dad. She woke him up, and Mom just got him to sleep again. And then the baby is going to scream and-"

"You're a big meanie, Tessie." Steph said, burying her face against my side. I opened my mouth to say something, but Tessie had already whirled around to glare at the little girl.

"Yeah? Well, you're a loud mouthed, whiny brat that took my Dad." Tessie stalked out of the room before Ty or I could say anything. I stared after her for a moment, feeling Steph starting to cry beside me.

"Maybe I should go-" Ty started.

"No. I'll go talk to her. Try to get Stephen to sleep and make sure Stephanie stops crying." I left the kids on the bed, glancing over my shoulder to make sure Ty had moved on to the bed to sit in between our six and four year old, both of them throwing themselves on to his lap and giggling.

I walked down the hall until I reached Tessie's bedroom, knocking gently.

"Tess, honey, can I come in?" There was no response.

"Theresa, I know that you're in there. Let me in so we can talk." There was a sound of the door clicking before the door swung open and revealed Tessie face down on her bed.

"I'm sorry." She whimpered, immediately hugging me, her face buried against my shoulder, "I didn't mean it, and I don't know why I said it. She. . . . I'm sorry, Mom." I brushed her hair out of her eyes, smiling sadly down at her.

"It's okay, baby girl. I understand." She shook her head.

"She didn't deserve that and. . . . why did I even say it?" I watched as she moved back, burying her face in her hands, her brown hair shielding her face from me completely.

"She did steal Daddy away, you know." She whispered, "I don't feel bad for saying it. He was my dad first, he treated me the way he treats her. But when she came along, I wasn't anything anymore. He made me do everything for Steph, play with her, do her hair, help her get dressed. But he never did anything with me, his first daughter." I felt my heart clench a little and touched her shoulder gently, my eyes on the pink comforter beneath us.