Prodigal Son; Malcolm Bright

26.00

Celine Wilson

Some months had passed, and we'd been going through a lot with Paisley, she was getting in trouble a little more than usual and with her being adventurous came a couple of minor injuries. We were sure she was just going through a phase. On top of that we were having a "family" breakfast to meet Malcolm's new love interest, Eve. We never really talked about what happened that night, so I wasn't really expecting anything, but this felt like a smack in the face.

I was brought out of my thoughts by the sound of Paisley's fork clinking with her plate. She looked up and met my eyes innocently.

Celine: Try not to make a mess Bugs

Eve: Bugs?

Malcolm: Oh, that's just her nickname. She had quite an obsession with bunnies when she was 2

Eve: Right, I was just wondering how you'd get that out of Paisley

Ainsley: I'll let you in on a little secret, she was really named after me

Malcolm: Her name just happens to have the same ending as yours

Ainsley: Whatever you say brother

Jessica: I wouldn't say she was obsessed with bunnies

I couldn't help but smile as I thought about the bunny costume, she threw tantrums anything she had to take it off. Then Jess went and made the mistake of buying her a bunny and we had to come up with some crazy story of where it went.

The sound of our phones simultaneously ringing was music to my ears. I stood up almost immediately.

Celine: Ainsley could you take her to daycare?

Jessica: It's alright I'll do it

I nodded and kissed her before starting out the door, making it difficult for Malcolm to catch up to me. When we finally arrived at the station all I talked to Malcolm about was the case, and when Gil decided we'd resume the case in the morning I went home without a word. I walked in and put a sleeping Paisley to bed and went to go and start unwinding when the lemon tree Malcolm bought caught my eye.

I'd stopped taking care of it the day Malcolm first told me he'd met someone. It symbolized a lot more than I'd originally thought it did, my emotions were to scrambled right now. Today had been draining in more ways than one. I picked up the dead lemon tree and winced, looking down at my hand seeing it had scratched me. I sighed and dropped it into the trash and went to go sleep off the day.

Malcolm Bright

Paisley had gotten in trouble again, so I was going to pick her up. I figured maybe she just needed a break and her mother obviously wanted a break away from me, so it was a win-win situation. I had already scheduled to go and see my father, so she'd be tagging along just this once, his face lit up when he saw her.

Martin: I didn't know you'd be joining us today

Paisley: I got in trouble at school

Martin: What happened?

Paisley: Taylor spilled water on my painting, so I spilled paint on her

In other words, she dumped the paint on the little girl's head. We hadn't talked about it yet so this would be helpful when we did.

Martin: Do you feel she deserved it?

Malcolm: No, no, no. Conversation ended

I picked Paisley up and carried her into the hall, giving her one of her dolls that I had stashed away in my pocket.