William crouched beside the tub. May clapped her bubble-covered hands together.
“Dada!”
“Baby girl. Are you playing with bubbles?”
“Bubbas fun.”
“They are. I wish I had bubbles when I shower.”
May scooped a handful and offered it to him.
“For me?” He accepted them. “Thanks.”
“Wubwat?”
“No, you can’t have Love-A-Lot in the bathtub. He can’t get wet.”
Love-A-Lot had become her favorite. It used to be Casey’s, but May claimed it, and
Casey hadn’t gotten it back.
May clapped again. “Out.”
William grabbed a towel and carried her to the bedroom to dry off and dress her.
“No diapah. Imma big gur.”
“I know, but you need one when you sleep.”
“Seep with mama.”
“If you sleep in the big bed, you need a diaper.”
“Kay,” she said, letting him put it on. He dressed her in pajamas, and she bolted
for the living room, clutching Love-A-Lot.
She usually slept with Casey when William worked, and he knew breaking the habit
later would be hard.
Casey came out with a trash bag of paint-covered paper plates. Her forehead had a
stripe of purple paint. May climbed onto the couch with her Care Bear, mashing
buttons on the remote.
“Is someone keeping MY Love-A-Lot company?” Casey asked.