Page 192 of Daddy’s Fortitude

He took the groceries into the kitchen.

She set everything out that she wanted to play with, but she also noticed that there was one more bag. She wondered what was in it.

When Ammo returned, he must have noticed her looking over at the bag.

“Want to know what’s in that bag, baby?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, please. What’s in it?”

He opened up the packages inside. The first held a pair of owl slippers. She let out a cry of wonder, taking them and hugging them to her chest.

“Oh, they’re so soft and fluffy. I love them so much.”

“I remembered you said you wanted some.”

Standing, she pushed her feet into the slippers, then walked around to test them. They fit perfectly.

“How do I look in them?” She held her foot out to one side then the other.

“You look perfect,” he told her huskily. Then he drew out a Garfield nightgown and robe. The belt around the robe actually looked like a cat’s tail, and it had a Garfield face on the hood. And the nightgown had small Garfield’s all over it.

She clapped her hands again, practically skipping over to him to grasp both. “I need to put them on right now, right now,” she cried as she pulled off her clothes and drew them on.

The nightgown felt so soft, but not as soft as the robe. It was like being cuddled by a cloud.

“So, I chose right,” Ammo said as he sat back on the couch and watched her.

“Daddy, I don’t think it’s possible for you to have chosen any better.” She threw herself on top of him and hugged him tight. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” She placed kisses all over his face, and he grinned at her.

“All right, all right. You’re welcome. There’s something else. Well, two things.”

“But you’ve already done so much for me. I don’t need anything else.”

“Well, I don’t know if you will like it. I know it won’t be the same one. I don’t even know what your old one looked like.”

Out of the bag, he pulled a soft Garfield toy. It wasn’t very big, and it wasn’t the same as her old one but it was just perfect.

She hugged the toy tight. “You got me a Garfield?”

“Do you like him? I know nothing can replace the one you lost. But I hoped this would help.”

“I think he’s perfect. You’re right. Nothing will replace my other Garfield. But this guy can be just as special.”

“There’s one last thing.” He reached into the bag and drew out a familiar black box.

Tears filled her eyes and she let out a sob. “How did you know?”

“Kirsten told me. I sent Webb in to get it today.” He laid the box on her lap and she opened it, touching it reverently. “You never should have sold it.”

“I wanted to pay you back some of what I owed you.”

“You didn’t owe me this.” He touched the flute. “This is priceless. And I used the money you got for it to buy it back, anyway. Although you do owe me some private concerts.”

She let out a small sob. “I can handle that.” She hugged him tight. “I think this might be the best day of my life.”

“Really? Even though you got your butt spanked?”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that part. Everything after that has been the best day of my life. And I liked having a picnic and going exploring with you, Daddy. Spending time with you.”