“That reminds me—when you were still in your mother’s belly, I’d always tell you, ‘Make sure you’re born when Daddy is home.’ How come you didn’t wait for me like I asked?” Mr. Fisalis asked Violet, reminiscing back to the day she was born.
Oh, that’s right! Mr. Fisalis was off at work the day I actually gave birth. He’d hurried home as soon as he got our message, but he ended up missing it by a hair.
“Hmm... Cuz I wanted to meet Mommy and Daddy right away!”
Unable to resist that innocent look on her face, Mr. Fisalis was so overcome with emotion that he pulled his daughter into a tight hug. “Okay, you’re forgiven!”
“But you didn’t get to the part where I was bown.”
“Oh, that’s a good point. Hmm... Let’s save the rest of the story for another day. For now, I have a present for you for being such a good girl today.”
“A pwesent? What is it?”
“Flowers! Rohtas, tell Bellis to bring in the flowers I gave him.”
“Yes, sir,” Rohtas replied before slipping away to carry out his orders.
“What flowers?” I asked. Whenever a rare specimen of flower caught Mr. Fisalis’s eye, he’d bring it home as a gift; I was curious as to where he’d found one today.
“While I was out on some business, I happened to spot a flower I was sure the two of you would love. I asked if I could bring a handful of them home with me.”
“I see! That was sweet of you.”
That was when Bellis walked in with a tray of flowers in hand.
“Wow! Look, Mommy! It’s so pwetty!”
“It’s beautiful! You think so too, Lettie?”
“Uh-huh!”
It was a small white flower—perfectly suited to both my taste and Lettie’s. We were practically jumping for joy.
“I say they’d make a good fit for Vi’s garden or the greenhouse. We should ask Bellis what he thinks. It’s getting pretty late, so Lettie, why don’t you and I plant these tomorrow?”
Violet gave a big, delighted nod. “Yeah!”
Truth be told, I wanted to join them—but when I saw how happy they looked, I decided to let it slide. Mr. Fisalis could have this one.
After that exchange, Violet went back to showering my husband with her usual questions of “what’s this” and “why that.”
“Jeez, I feel like I might as well have answered all of life’s questions today!” Mr. Fisalis cried. It seemed he was finally ready to throw in the towel.
“Wow, done already? Rohtas and Dahlia have been a lot more patient with her, you know.”
“Grrr... Fine, I’ll keep at it.”
As entertaining as it was to watch Mr. Fisalis grow competitive over something so silly, time was up for the day. It was Violet’s bedtime.
“Hee hee. Come on, Lettie, it’s time to get you to bed.”
“Okay!”
It was beyond precious what a good little girl she was being. I could see the hearts in Mr. Fisalis’s eyes too.
“Want to go beddy-bye with Daddy tonight?” he asked.
“Yeah! You come too, Mommy!”
“Sure thing, sweetie.”
Mr. Fisalis carried Violet off in his arms, while she pulled me along by the hand. Tonight the three of us were going to be sleeping together.
✦ ✦ ✦
Our marriage had begun with a completely passionless contract. Whoever could have guessed that such a happy ending awaited us?
If anyone can explain this to me, then please—be my guest!