Conflicted

Chapter 35

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Ada Johnson's P. O. V

Elissa splashes away as the clear yet slightly bubbly water catches her intrigue, the baby's chubby legs kicking this way and that which results in half of the water sloshing out of the bathtub. The rubber ducky I had placed so kindly within her reach now flung at the far tile clad wall with tremendous force that made me slightly edge away.

Who knew babies had it in them? Of course my mind wanders over to her father, the daunting man sending chills down my spine and not in a good way either. I could picture him doing the same as a child.

A grunt makes me jump out of my thoughts as I turn towards the source of the noise only to find streams of droplets running down Gregory's face, his eyes closed from the impact of the water with his lips in a frown. I can't help but to laugh at his disappointment, my eyes dropping down to Elissa who squeals in delight at the action.

"Whoops." I utter out jokingly, Gregory letting out a scoff as he turns to me, one eye popped open while the other remains shut. Before I can make a move to back away, the man is already on me and pressing a chaste kiss to my lips as I frown in disgust. Greg moves back in a state of triumph as he turns his attention back to Elissa who tries to reach for her rubber duck as I continue to gag at the bitter taste of baby wash on my tongue.

"Come on now Elissa. Bath time is over for you. Your mommy and daddy will be here to take you away from me forever." He coos at the little girl as she peers up at him in confusion, not quite understanding what the loony man is on about.

"Stop being so melodramatic," I scoff as I give the man the towel as he scoops her up out of the bath and into it, making sure to cover her head with the top of the little baby hood attached to the towel. While he goes into the main bedroom to change her, I quickly rinse the tub and make sure it's clean before heading over to where Gregory is, only to find a still wide awake baby babbling away in Greg's arms.

"Shouldn't she be a bit sleepy?" I question as my mind goes back to the list Damien and Serena left. My eyes then locate the alarm on the bed side table as I frown, something not quite adding up.

"You didn't read the list did you?" I ask in realisation while Gregory shrugs.

"Why would I need to? I've looked after my god-daughter plenty enough time's to know." He says in an almost haughty manner as he makes his was passed me and then downstairs, all while I follow after him.

"Then you should know that the list goes; give her food, change her diaper, give her a bath, and then give her a bottle of milk so that she can sleep." I comment back to which I get a baffled look.

"That's one of the most stupidest routines I've ever heard of." He says while putting the baby in her high hair, securing her before rummaging through the fridge.

"And how many babies have you had?" I tease back which only earns me a glare in the process.

A few good natured words are returned here and there, Gregory trying to feed Elissa some concoction of mixed vegetables that seem as tasty as when they're spat out by her and all over the poor man's face once again.

"I give up!" Gregory announces loudly as he sits up, hands in the air with a spoon clenched in his first as something that looks like pees splatter his forehead. I try to hold back my laugh, while also severely failing to do so. "You go take a shower. Take some 'me' time and I'll feed the baby," Greg pauses for a split second, the desperation for a shower clear in his eyes but also some hesitancy as he glances from the baby and up to the ceiling where I'm assuming his bedroom is. "Go. I'll be fine." With one last resounding huff, the man rushes past me while simultaneously shoving the spoon in my hand as he makes a run for the shower. The concoction of vegetables falling further down his face with each step causing me to cringe.