Toots witnessed this little exchange she was out of her chair like a shot and rushing over to me.
“Don't worry, men always get hungry, he will be back soon,” she said as soon as she made it over to me, pulling me in for a hug. After this we were joined by another presence, one that became known to us when Amelia shouted with joy,
“Daddy!” Mr tall, dark, and royal handsome man quickly swooped his daughter up into his arms like he always did. It was at this point that the King, one I was definitely now more used to, came over and like I often did with his child, he ruffled her hair and said,
“Hello, my beautiful young lady, I would ask what you have been doing with your day but seeing as you have paint behind your ears, I think I know.” He whispered this last part by her neck before blowing raspberries there and making her howl with laughter… she was almost as ticklish as I was.
“Daddy, stop… no… he he!” she complained in between her giggles. I looked to Keira who clearly adored the sight of her husband with their daughter, as her eyes always got soft like that when watching the two of them. This, of course, meant that she didn’t mind at all that Amelia was clearly a daddy’s girl.
I asked her once why she didn’t get jealous and she said,
“Because I know my time will come when she is older and wants to do girly stuff… although, I might miss seeing ribbons in Draven’s hair or makeup on his face sat at one of her famous tea parties, as I can’t see her still doing this when she is a teenager, can you?” Of course my answer had been to burst out laughing, as the one time I too had seen this had brought tears to my eyes, it had been that funny.
But then again, there wasn’t much that Dom wouldn’t do for his little girl. Basically, he was just a big push over, and often it was Keira who had to bring out the parenting big guns.
As for now, it was Dom whose hand I felt clasped at my shoulder before he told me,
“Have no fear, Pipper, I have spoken with Adam and be assured he just needs time, for I am afraid your latest antic really… well, for lack of a better term, ruffled some feathers.”
“But he doesn't have feathers because he doesn't have wings, silly,” Amelia said, looking up at her daddy who was still holding her to one side of him with an arm around her. The look of love he gave her was one that was a usual sight to see.
“That's true, how could I forget these things, but then again, I'm lucky because I have you to help me remember,” he teased, tapping his own head and making her giggle. But then, after this, her mood changed as if she'd remembered something and suddenly she frowned at him, now looking very cross indeed. This was naturally an ‘uh oh’ moment for me.
Dom looked taken aback and said,
“Now that is a curious look, little one… come on, out with it… what have I done this time, for those type of looks are only usually reserved for your mother.” He whispered this last part, and I could see her lips twitching as she tried to stay angry.
“You have a lot of explaining to do, Mister,” she stated in a firm sweet voice, making me laugh and Toots reprimand her,
“Now watch your tone, Missy.” Meanwhile, Dom looked as if he was barely containing his laughter trying to take her annoyance with him seriously.
“And prey tell me, pretty child of mine, exactly what explaining do I have to do this time, for I have a feeling someone has been telling tall Hellish tales again.” At this point, I lifted up my hands when he shot me a questioning look, knowing exactly who the culprit was for these tall Hellish tales.
“Hey, don't shoot the messenger, I was merely telling your daughter a totally innocent fairy tale… of sorts.” I muttered this last part to myself. But then came the next question to ask, and I tensed knowing what it would be before my very powerful King said,
“Um, and what fairy tale was this I wonder?” This was when I fessed up with a well-known Pip catch phrase…
“Erh… My Bad.”
Twenty-One
ANOTHER HANDSOME KING
Toots shook her head at me, as she usually did when trying