Page 103 of Daddy, Take Me Away
“There?” I asked, pointing.
He read the sign and nodded. “It says the toys are handmade. That’s a fun store, right?”
I nodded. “Yas-huh.”
After holding the door open for me, Daddy followed me inside. The cool air felt so much better than the Georgia heat. I browsed the shelves, looking at all the treasures. Daddy had reminded me before we left the room to look with my eyes only, but when I saw the pink-and-black marshmallow gun, I couldn’t help but snatch it up.
Too late, I realized what I’d done. My already sore butt clenched in anticipation, and tears filled my eyes.
Daddy’s hand rested on my shoulder, and I bit my lip before bringing up my head to look at him.
“Did you see something you like?” he asked.
I studied the toy in my hand, my tummy hurting too bad to want it anymore.
“Hey, what’s wrong, baby?” he asked, kneeling down in front of me.
“I forgot.”
“You forgot what, baby?”
“I forgot to look with my eyes.”
He smiled, before wiping my tears with his hands. “You were excited, baby. It’s okay, it’s a toy store. It would be hard for any Little one to keep their hands to themselves.”
“Mad?” I asked, even though I knew he was never really mad at me, maybe just disappointed.
“Not even a tiny bit, babygirl.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek as he stood. “What did you find?”
“A marshmallow gun.” I held the toy out for him to see. “Shoots mini marshmallows.”
He looked it over before laughing. “This is very cool. What do you say we buy a few extras for the other Little girls?”
“Yas-huh!” I agreed. Daddy was so sweet.
“One condition, though.”
I looked up at him, waiting to hear the condition.
“Daddy is exempt from marshmallow fire.”
Laughing, I nodded. “Okay, Dada.”
He helped me pick out more pretty colors before we checked out. Holding his hand, I skipped along the walkways. “Favorite store, Daddy?”
“I think maybe the Sock Shop was my favorite store. What was your favorite?”
“Toy store.”
Chuckling, he squeezed my hand. “I figured as much.”
“Where now?”
“There’s one more store I want to visit over this way. It’s a Christmas shop. I thought maybe we could get some personalized ornaments.”
“Ohhhh,” I answered. Daddy and I loved Christmas.
“I think it’s past that tattoo shop. I saw a sign for it yesterday.”
