Closer 2

72.

Brett tried to listen to Eddy's phone call from the kitchen while heating some baby food for Elise. Elise was on the floor by his feet, trying to open the bottom drawer he knew only contained kitchen towels. No dangerous contents. He just had to make sure she didn't close it on her fingers or something, but that was as easy as placing his leg in the way so it wouldn't close.

"You ready for some squished mango, babygirl?" Brett asked Elise, who was too busy trying to pull a green and white checkered towel out of the drawer. He sighed softly, mostly because he was tired.

As he placed Elise in her high chair he realized that Eddy had been in their bedroom for the phone call for quite a while. He shushed Elise for a bit and listened to try and hear Eddy's voice. He couldn't hear it, but assumed Eddy had either taken a nap or was on hold or something.

"Baba! Yumm!" Elise demanded impatiently, kicking her legs a bit. Brett turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Yummy... please," Brett corrected gently, with a soft smile. He placed a kiss to her forehead and grabbed the bowl from the table to put on her tray. They always tried to let her eat for herself first, but she wasn't really coordinated enough to get enough down so they would help her after a bit.

After watching her try and get the food from the bowl to her mouth for a long while, he noticed Eddy come out of their bedroom. Brett only barely managed to catch a glimpse of him before he disappeared into the bathroom, and a few moments later the shower turned on.

"Baba?" Elise asked, pulling Brett out of his thoughts. She held the spoon out to him to help her, and he took it.

"You done with eating on your own?" he asked her softly, scooping up some of the pureed mango on the spoon. Elise grinned at him.

"Ya!" she giggled, opening her mouth wide when Brett held up the pink plastic spoon to feed her. Brett smiled back when she actually answered. It happened sometimes, and he was pretty sure she understood most of what was said to her even if she wasn't able to speak much herself yet.

"Alright, I guess I'll have to feed you then so you won't starve," Brett chuckled softly, shaking his head slightly. "I expect you to do the same for me when I'm old, you know."

Elise just giggled at that, some food running down the side of her mouth. Baba grabbed a cloth and wiped it off.

"You gotta keep your mouth closed, babygirl," Brett said with a smile. "We don't want food everywhere."

"Ya!" Elise grinned again, but ahe had luckily swallowed most of her food now. Brett chuckled softly and scooped up more food.

"That's your new word, huh? 'Ya'?" Brett asked, holding up the spoon for her again. She giggled, but took the food. Brett shook his head, but smiled.

"You're adorable, you know," he hummed, not hearing the soft sobs from the bathroom over the sound of the shower.