Page 204 of Daddy’s Fortitude

“No, you see, I was thinking that you’re always having to ride to my rescue, and that you’re kind of like my hero. And then I was thinking that if you’re riding to my rescue, can you actually ride? And then I was apologizing because you’re always having to ride to my rescue.”

“I can ride. Plus, I’m always going to ride to your rescue. And I’m always going to be your hero. Also, you don’t have to apologize to me for helping you. That’s my job, to take care of you, remember?”

She nodded. “I’m lucky you’re really good at it. I’m going to give you an awesome job evaluation. I think I could give you maybe four or five gold stars.”

“Out of five?” he asked.

“Oh, no, out of ten.”

His eyes widened, and she let out a giggle.

“I’m joking. I’m joking. Of course, it’s out of five.”

Suddenly, he started to tickle her. It caught her completely by surprise, and she let out a few squeals.

The last thing she’d expected to do today was laugh. But she ended up on her back on the sofa, laughing and trying to push his hands away.

But the man was strong, really strong.

And in the end, she had no chance. “Mercy, mercy! I gotta pee, I gotta pee.”

Immediately, he jumped up, scooped her into his arms, and rushed her into the bathroom.

He placed her down in front of the toilet, then pulled down the pants that she was wearing along with her panties before helping her sit.

“Um,” she said, staring up at him as he just stayed there. “You’ve got to leave. I gotta pee.”

“One day you’ll be comfortable peeing in front of me,” he told her.

“Well, that day is not today, though. Out.” She pointed at the door.

He walked out, but left the door open. “And one day, you’re going to learn that you aren’t the boss around here, young lady.”

Ooh, young lady. She was in trouble, wasn’t she?

And yet, for some reason, she found herself smiling.

She didn’t know how he’d done it, but he’d turned a terrible day into something a bit more fun and light-hearted. Those weren’t words usually used describe Ammo. But that just made it all the more special, because he was doing this for her, to help her, to make her feel better.

After she used the bathroom and washed her hands, she walked out into the living room. She needed to escape for the rest of the day. Sure, she could sit there and keep thinking over and over about what Kelly-Anne had done, but what was that going to achieve? Nothing. It was probably just going to lead to another panic attack. So she moved over to Ammo and tapped his knee.

He stared up at her. “Yes, baby?”

“Want to play, Daddy?”

He raised his eyebrows. “What would you like to play?”

“Well, there’s the old tea set in the kitchen. I can make us cups of tea, and we could make food out of the clay. What do you think?”

“I think that sounds like a perfect way to spend the afternoon.”

“All right, Daddy, let’s party!”

Ammo realized that he may have spoken too soon when he said this was a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

Because not only had he helped make the food for the tea party, but now he was a participant at the tea party, and apparently everyone had to dress up.

He’d planned on wearing his own clothes. What he hadn’t realized was that she’d found a pile of old clothes in the back of the closet that must have belonged to Kirsten’s grandparents.