Chapter 129: Day Out With Mommy and Daddy
Zeke told Claire to look around and choose anything she liked. As soon as she got his go-ahead, Claire ran straight to the shelf full of stuffed animals.
She grabbed a soft penguin and a big gray elephant, hugging both tightly in her arms. Then she rushed back to Zeke, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Daddy. Look. I like these." she said, holding them up proudly.
Zeke crouched down and smiled. "You want to get these?"
Claire nodded fast. "Yes, yes! Can I, Daddy? Pretty please?" She hugged the stuffed animals close to her chest. "I wanna give Browny and Sparkle new friends! I don’t have a penguin or an elephant at home yet."
Still smiling, Zeke brushed Claire’s bangs aside gently. "Take whatever you want. Didn’t Daddy say? Daddy will give you anything you wish for, princess."
Claire’s eyes got even brighter. She bounced a little in place, then leaned close to Zeke and whispered, "Can I get... one more stuffie? And the animal hats? The puppy one... and the bunny too?
Zeke let out a soft chuckle. "Of course you can, princess. If you want, Daddy will buy everything in this store for you."
Claire gasped, her mouth forming a perfect little "O" of amazement.
But beside them, Cassidy frowned, arms gently crossing over her chest. "Zeke, don’t say things like that."
Zeke sighed and turned to Cassidy. "Okay, I’m sorry," he said gently.
Cassidy knelt down and gently stroked Claire’s arm. "Baby, how about just two stuffies and two animal hats, okay? That way we don’t take more than we need."