We’ve finished supper and Darby is eating some dessert while Joce picks up the mess. I’ve invited her to come back into the dining room with us when she’s done and have some of the pie that I made yesterday. She knows that I like a spotless home, so she’ll do her best to pass inspection and be able to spend more time with Darby.
Twenty more minutes go by before Jocelyn reappears, clearing her throat in the doorway of the dining room. I lean over and give Darbs a kiss on the cheek, before getting up and walking past my oldest.
She follows closely behind me without me having to tell her to do so and I can’t help but be proud of her right now for that little show of submission. It seems like my girl is starting to remember the law of the land and that’s something I can definitely appreciate.
Once we enter the kitchen, I take a quick walk around to make sure that everything is as it should be—to my liking.
“You did a good job, kid,” I say with a nod as I inspect the sink. “Very nice. Why don’t you grab some pie and come back into the dining room? I’m sure Darby would like to get to know more about you.”
“Thank you, Pater,” she says softly as I walk past her on the way back into the dining room. I stop for a moment, my eyes lingering on her and grin. It’s enough for her to know that I acknowledge her and yet, by not verbally saying anything in return, reminds her that I’m the one in charge here.
Darby is peeking out the window when I walk into the dining room. With a sigh, I walk over, pull her hand off the curtain, and spin her back toward her chair.
“Sit down. Be a good girl for me,” I say to her quietly.
She gives me her infamous “I’m a big girl” pout before she finally does as she’s told. I can always counter that look with a stare and that’s when she knows I mean business.
She climbs into her chair and crosses her arms over her chest, pout still prominent, and a humph noise to punctuate it.
I can’t help but laugh because I’ve seen that same face and gesture done by her momma plenty of times before.
“Hey, I have an idea,” I say to her as I sit down at the head of the table. “Why don’t you ask the lady what her name is when she comes back? I’m sure that would make her smile.”
“I don’t wanna,” she huffs.
“Darby, that’s one,” I say to her holding up a warning finger.
She bounces her arms against her chest one more time before she drops her hands to the table. I watch as she picks up her fork and begins poking at her pie.
Who’s bright idea was it to have kids? I think, rolling my eyes. If I’m being honest, I think I would have been perfectly happy living my entire life alone, but shit happens, and some pussy is too good to pass up. I turn my eyes toward Jocelyn when she renters the room with a small plate in her hand.
She takes a seat across from Darby, who I’m now watching. She knows better than to not do as I tell her, and even though I don’t want to have to spank her over something so trivial, I will.
Darby steals a glance in my direction before she sighs and puts her fork down, dropping her chin in her hands and looks at Jocelyn.
“So what’s your name?” she asks her.
I nod and take a sip of wine. Maybe this parenting shit isn’t so bad after all.
“Jocelyn. I’m your Momma.”
Then again, maybe it is.