Page 31 of A Little Christmas Wish

“And I definitely want you to sleep.”

“I’ll try.”

“You’ll do more than try. I think that’s part of the problem, that you’re not getting enough sleep. So you’re going to have a nap now.”

“A nap?” she groaned. “But, Daddy, I’ve got other things to do!”

“No, you don’t. I’m going to make you a bottle and you can have a nice nap. Doesn’t that sound good?”

It sounded boring.

“I think there’s more exciting things we could be doing, Daddy.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Like what?”

“Christmas shopping!”

“Nope. You need sleep. You can play with your toys for a few minutes while I get your bottle ready.”

He settled her in her teepee and handed her Stella. She already had Stella’s things in the teepee from the other day.

“Oh, Stella. Why am I being so silly?” she asked. “You think it’s because I didn’t take you shopping with me? But you can’t come everywhere with me . . . no, people won’t understand abig girl like me carrying a dolly around. Floppy doesn’t get to go either.”

The doll scowled. Wow. Stella was really upset with her.

“I’m sorry, Stella. But you don’t get everything you want,” she told her doll firmly. “Now, don’t you stomp your foot at me, young lady!”

Yikes.

What just came out of her mouth? She’d sounded like Daddy just then and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

“You have to have your bottle, Stella,” she told her doll, picking up the baby bottle. “Be a good girl.”

“Is everything all right in here?” Ink asked.

She jumped slightly. “Daddy! You surprised me. You shouldn’t sneak up on me. It’s not very nice.”

“I’m sorry, baby. Didn’t you hear me come into the room?” he asked, crouching down.

“No, I was too busy scolding Stella. She is being naughty. She’s upset that I didn’t take her shopping today and she’s refusing to have her bottle.”

“That is very naughty. Perhaps you should put her into Time Out,” he suggested.

“I can’t do that, Daddy! It’s not nice. I’m not you.”

He shot her a look. “Are you saying I’m not nice, Button?”

Uh-oh.

“I didn’t say that, Daddy,” she said hastily. “In fact, I was just telling Stella what a really nice Daddy I have. The bestest, greatest, most amazing Daddy in the world.”

“Nice save,” he muttered.

“I thought so.”

“Come on, leave Stella for the moment. It’s time for your bottle.”

She sighed. “Daddy, I don’t drinks from a bottle. I’m a big girl.”

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