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“Daddy!” Tim looks up to see Ava looking up at him giving him puppy dog eyes. He tilts his head at her because he knows that look. It means she wants something or she’s going to ask a question.
“Yes Aves?” He asks her. Ava shifts on her feet and gives him a bright smile.
“I’ve been a good girl today daddy.” She says. “Mommy said I could have ice cream.” Tim raises his eyebrows at her. They had challenged Ava to be good as in listen the first time, play with Daisy, and be quiet when Daisy was napping. She was good but just a little wound up sometimes. She was only four but they wanted to teach her good habits now.
“Oh?” Tim says. “Did mommy say you can have ice cream?” Ava nods her head looking towards the kitchen.
“Mommy bought ice cream for me. It’s double chocolate chip!” She says bouncing on her feet. Tim laughs and stands up from the couch taking Ava’s hand.
“Okay.” He says. “I think I can dip you some ice cream.” He leads Ava to the kitchen and she climbs up on one of the stools where Tim goes to the freezer. He opens it up and looks inside expecting to see a carton of ice cream.
But there’s no ice cream.
He digs through the freezer knowing Lucy had just bought Ava ice cream the other day. He was the one who put it away.
“Are you sure there was some left Aves?” Tim asks turning to look at his daughter. Ava nods and Tim turns back to look through the freezer.
“What’s wrong daddy?” Ava asks. Tim sighs and turns to face his four year old knowing he was about to break her heart.
“There’s no ice cream Aves.” He says. Ava frowns and hops off the stool. She yanks open the freezer and peers inside.
“Someone ate my ice cream.” Ava says looking up at Tim. “Who would do that?”
“Well—” Tim starts but a voice interrupts him.
“What’s going on?” Tim turns to see Lucy holding a bowl at the entrance of the kitchen. She has one of his shirts on which barely fits over her bump.
“Um someone ate Ava’s ice cream.” Tim says. He gives her a look. “You don’t happen to know who do you?”
Lucy looks at Tim and then at Ava who has her eyes narrowed at Lucy. A stern look on face.
“Well—” Lucy says putting the bowl down. Tim looks in it and sees the remains of what looks like chocolate ice cream. “I was craving ice cream.”
Ava’s mouth drops open and she glares at her mom. “You ate my ice cream? I was a good girl!”
“I know baby.” Lucy says stepping towards Ava. She starts to bend down but thinks better of it and just looks at the four year old. “But I wanted—”
“That was my ice cream!” Ava says stomping her feet. “I didn’t get any!” Lucy winces and turns to look at Tim for help. But Tim just looks between his wife and daughter amazed that Ava really is so much like Lucy. She may look like him but her little personality is more Lucy. He remembers when he ate Lucy’s ice cream.
He regretted it ever since.
“Ava, we will buy you more ice cream.” Tim says. “Okay? And you can have two scoops.” Ava makes a frustrated noise and stomps off.
“Thanks for the help babe.” Lucy says going over to the sink and rinsing out the bowl and looking over at him with an unimpressed look.
“You did eat her ice cream Luce.” Tim says shrugging. “Remember how mad you got when I ate your ice cream when you were pregnant with Ava?”
“You ate my ice cream!” Lucy says indignantly. “And you forgot it at the store.” Tim rolls his eyes and comes up behind her. He wraps his arms around her and puts his hands on her stomach where their two babies grow.
Their twins.
“And you ate Ava’s.” Tim points out pressing a kiss to her neck. “She’s a lot like you.” Lucy scoffs and turns around in his arms.
“I wanted ice cream.”
“I know Luce.”
“She’s mad at me. I will buy her more.” She says. “Her brother and sister just wanted ice cream too.” Tim just shakes his head and gives her a kiss.
“She’s four Lucy. She will get over it.” Tim says although if Ava is anything like Lucy she would hold a grudge.
“Yeah.” Lucy says. “When did we get a teenager?”
“It’s too soon for that.” Tim says because he can’t even imagine Ava being a teenager. She needed to stay little forever.
“Mmm.”
“I still love you.” Tim says. Lucy rolls her eyes but she’s smiling and then she buries her head in his chest.
“I love you too.”
***
Angela is just sitting down on the couch when her phone buzzes. Tim’s name lighting up the screen. She frowns but picks it up—it was probably Tim asking if she could watch Ava and Daisy so Lucy could get some time to herself.
“Hello?”
“Aunt Angela!” Ava’s voice rings over the phone and Angela sits up straight.
“Ava?” She says. “What’s wrong?” Ava lets out a impatient sigh.
“I need you to arrest my mommy.” She says sounding indignant. Angela frowns and pulls the phone away taking a deep breath before she’s putting it back to her ear.
“Why Ava?” She asks patiently wondering how the four year old even knew how to call her.
“She ate my ice cream!” Ava says. “She ate my ice cream!
“Oh my.” Angela says standing up. “Does your daddy know about this?”
“Yes! He’s gonna give me two scoops of ice cream. Can you arrest her?” Angela looks around the living room but she’s the only one in here. Wesley was in his office and the kids were with her mom.
“Okay Ava.” Angela says. “I will arrest your mom under one condition.”
“What?”
“I get some of your ice cream.” Angela says grinning and she imagines her goddaughter rolling her eyes.
“Fine!”
“See you soon.” Angela says grinning to herself.
Oh this was going to be fun.
***
Lucy hears the doorbell ring before she sits down and she’s grateful because she definitely wouldn’t be able to get up. Being pregnant with twins was no joke. Being 6 months pregnant with twins was even harder.
She goes to answer it without seeing who it was. She opens the door only to see Angela there shaking her head at her.
“What are you—”
“Lucy Chen you are under arrest.” Angela says. Lucy gapes at her a little.
“For what?”
“Eating your daughter’s ice cream.” Angela says grinning. “Turn around.”
Jesus Christ.
“Tim! Ava Rose Bradford!” Lucy yells. Tim comes first followed by Ava who smiles when she sees Angela.
“You came!” She says. Lucy looks at her daughter and then her husband who looks bewildered.
“What are you doing here?” He asks Angela.
“I called her to arrest mommy.” Ava says pointing her chin up. “Because she ate my ice cream.” Tim lets out a small laugh and Lucy hits him on the arm.
“Tim!”
“You ate her ice cream Lucy. I’m pretty sure you threatened me with divorce when I ate yours.” Tim says shrugging. Lucy groans and closes her eyes before opening them and looking at her daughter.
“Ava, I’m sorry I ate your ice cream.” She says. Ava just stares at her, and then looks at Tim.
“Did you eat mommy’s ice cream?” She asks furrowing her eyebrows at him.
“Once. When you were in mommy’s belly.” Tim says. “I learned my lesson.” Ava narrows her eyes at him. Lucy wonders if she’s going to turn on Tim too. Her four year took ice cream very seriously.
Not that Lucy blames her.
“Okay.” Angela says still looking amused. “Ava, I’m going to take your mommy to jail.” Ava nods and Lucy sighs heavily.
“Learn your lesson!” Ava says still scowling a little at her. Lucy rolls her eyes and gives Tim one last look before following Angela out the door.
“I’m just driving you around the block.” Angela says before Lucy can speak. “Your daughter is very—”
“I know.” Lucy says. She glances back at her house and then climbs into Angela’s car. “You know—Tim has been wanting to give me a day off.” Angela grins at her, and starts the car.
“How does a spa day sound?” She asks. Lucy sighs softly.
“That sounds—perfect.” She says. And she will definitely learn her lesson this way.
***
Lucy comes home just as Tim is coming out of Daisy’s room. He grins at her, and then takes her hand pulling her into their bedroom.
“How was your spa day?” He asks brushing some hair out of her face. Lucy sighs happily and leans in to him.
“Best day I have had in awhile.” She says. “We went to one where they did a prenatal massage. It was perfect.”
Tim laughs and presses a kiss to the top of her head. He didn’t think anything of it when Lucy had called him and told him she was going to do a spa day with Angela. She deserved it and he couldn’t think of anything better.
“I’m glad baby.” He says. “Did you learn your lesson?”
“Never eat our four year old’s ice cream because she will have me arrested? Yes. Lesson learned.”
Tim lets out another laugh. “She will be happy to hear that. Maybe don’t tell her you got your toes done.” He looks down at Lucy’s feet which are freshly painted.
“Mm.” Lucy says. “I got her ice cream on the way home.” Tim pulls Lucy towards the bed and she sits down on it kicking her flip flops off.
“Good.” Tim says sitting next to her. “You know she loves you right?”
“I think she loves ice cream more.” Lucy grumbles. Tim pulls her close and she lays her head on his shoulder.
“Maybe.” Tim says because Ava is four and he knows without a doubt she loves her mama. “But she does love you.” Lucy lets out a breath and lays down on the bed.
“I don’t blame her.” Lucy says. “I love ice cream too. So do the twins.” Tim lays down next to her and it might be a crazy life but it’s their life.
***
Lucy wakes up to someone shaking her shoulder. She opens her eyes slowly and sees Ava next to her.
“Hi mommy.”
“Hi baby.” Lucy says sitting up a bit. She sees Tim moving a little and rolling over. His eyes meet hers and he smiles. “What are you doing here?”
“Did you learn your lesson?” Ava asks a serious look on her little face.
“Yes.” Lucy says reaching out to pull Ava close. “And guess what?”
“What?” Ava asks leaning in to put her head on Lucy’s chest. Lucy catches Tim’s eyes and he gives her a knowing smile. Lucy presses a kiss to the top of Ava’s head because no matter what she’s her baby girl. The one who made her a mom.
“I got you some ice cream.” Lucy says. Ava’s face lights up in a smile and she hugs Lucy.
“When daddy picked you up from jail?” She asks. Tim lets out a laugh and Lucy rolls her eyes.
“Yes Aves.” Lucy says. “If you are good today again you will get some okay?”
“You won’t eat it?”
“No.” Lucy says. “I got myself some.” Ava grins at her and gives her another hug.
“Thank you mommy.” She says. “I love you.”
“I love you too Ava.”