Endings and Beginnings

Chapter 65

Don woke up when he felt someone climbing on him and then pry his eyelid open. He couldn't help but laugh and smile when he saw it was Mamie. He ruffled her little blonde curls. "It's Daddy's princess. What are you doing, Mamie girl?"

"I pay ith Daddy." Mamie smiled. "Pwease, Daddy?"

Don looked over and saw his wife, son and baby daughter were still sleeping. He couldn't resist his little girl. He picked her up and got out of bed. "Let's go to your room so Mommy, Henry and Gracie can sleep. What do you want to play, curly?"

"Dwess up." Mamie smiled.

Don laughed as he kissed her head and carried her into her room. "You want to play dress up, huh? What else?"

"Tea pawty." Mamie said excitedly as her father set her down on the floor and she went to her small table that was constantly set for a tea party. "Bawbies."

Don laughed as he sat on the floor right next to his daughter; knowing from experience he couldn't sit on the little chairs because they will break. "You want to play tea party and dress up AND barbies, huh?"

"Pwease, Daddy." Mamie pouted her bottom lip. "I pwomise I be good."

Don's heart broke at the look in his daughter's eyes. He couldn't help but wonder what had gone on in their apartment the night before. He didn't want to ask her without Meryl present; but had a feeling she would be waking up soon and he hoped they would be able to talk to their daughter before the other two woke up. "You are always good, Mamie girl. How much do Mommy and I love you?"

"Tis much?" Mamie asked as she held out her little arms.

Don shook his head. "So much more than that."

"Tis much?" She asked stretching her arms out even more.

Don shook his head again. "Mommy and I love you to the moon and back; we love you more than there are stars in the sky."

"Tats awot, Daddy." Mamie gave Don a smile; it was Meryl's smile.

Don shook his head as she kissed the top of her curly head. "We love you so much, Mamie girl."

"I wuv ou Daddy." Mamie crawled up on his lap. "Why Daddy cwy?"

Don didn't even bother to wipe his tears away. This was the first chance he had to talk to his daughter since he learned she was missing because she was asleep when they found her. The fact that she was missing because of his mother absolutely tore him up. "I just love my Mamie girl."

"Otay, Daddy." Mamie smiled and got up and went to her dress up boy then she walked back over to her father and put a large purple hat on him. "Tere."

Don laughed. "Okay girly, what are we going to play first?"

***

Meryl stirred awake and frowned when she saw that her husband and daughter were no longer in bed with her. She immediately got out of bed and ran down the hall. She stopped at her daughter's door when she heard laughing. She wished she had her camera. Her husband was sitting on the floor in a purple hat and feather boa while Mamie was putting play clip-on earrings on his earlobes. He then grabbed their daughter pulling her into his lap tickling her. She wanted to watch that moment forever. Not even caring about the tears that trailed down her cheeks. Too soon she was noticed. "Mommy!"

"There's Mommy's precious Mamie girl!" Meryl bent down and picked Mamie up when she ran to her; kissing all over her face. "Mommy missed you so much. How much does Mommy love you?"