For All Eternity

Forever

"Come on sweetheart, we need to get this parcel before Di gets back," Joe said to Connie who was taking forever to put her shoes on.

"Why can't I stay?" Connie asked, trying to fold her arms.

"Because you're five and five year olds can't stay in the house on their own, now come on, it's a present for Dianne," he said hoping to spark her interest.

"Why?" She had at least stood up.

"Because we're going to ask her to move in with us. To live with us forever."

"Doesn't she already do vat?" Connie looked at him quizzically, holding his hand.

Joe laughed nodding, "sort of, but we're going to make it official so that her bills come here and she gets cards sent here. She can bring the last of her stuff over from where she used to live, like her big picture board. It's also a way for us to tell her that we really love her."

"She already knows vat."

"I know she does but sometimes it's nice to remind her," Joe explained, pointing to the button she needed to press.

"Otay. So does vat mean vat on Strictly Dot will come home always?"

"Back to here yes, if she says yes to our question. But you know that it's probably going to be that Daddy is out really late and Dot will get back before bedtime. Because of Daddy's new job?" Joe kept reminding Connie of this, wanting to ensure that she was well aware of the changes that were going to happen in September.

"Yep. Connie school. Dot dancing. Daddy featre."

"Exactly, but I'll always be able to drop you off at school," Joe explained, ushering her out of the lift with a hand on the back of her head.

"Good." She said running to the desk, "excuse me, please do you have any parcels for Daddy?"

"Hello Connie, I'll just check for you!" Thomas, the man on concierge, said knowing Connie well.

"Daddy Thomas is just looking."

"That's good, do you want me to lift you up?" Joe asked, seeing Connie stand on her tiptoes to try and see over the desk. She nodded and jumped, trying to help Joe, who easily sat her on the desk just as Thomas was getting back.

"2 parcels, one for Dianne and one for Daddy," he told Connie, putting the parcels next to her.

"Two!"

"Yep and I found something else back there," he said, hiding something behind his back.

"What!" Connie leaned trying to see.

"A cupcake, it told me it's for a Connie!"

"Vats actulally me, I'm Connie, Thomas!" Connie shouted, wriggling with excitement.

"That's lucky, here you go!" Thomas said, passing her the cupcake.

"What do you say to Thomas for our parcels?"

"Fank you so much Mr Thomas, one is a present for Dot, we're asking her to come and live wiv us forever and ever," Connie explained, as Joe lifted her onto the floor.

"That's so cool, I'll see you soon Connie," Thomas waved.

"Bye bye!" Connie said, stepping into the lift, "I really like Thomas, he's lovely."

"He is, that was nice of him to give you a cupcake wasn't it?" Joe said, kissing her head.

"He just delivered it, someone dropped it off, it was probably Dr Ranj."