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“I have a feeling you’re doing this just to upset me” Riddle sighed, defeated. He had just witnessed his daughter making silly faces at a plush bunny while drooling endlessly.
For a month, he had been trying to teach Emily how to walk. Unfortunately for him, the little girl wouldn’t cooperate. She was always giggly, crawling on all fours and hiding in a toy box. This time, however, she simply ignored him.
Although Riddle was not capable of punishing her for not listening to him. With her curly red locks and chubby cheeks, Emily embodied cuteness. Not to mention her smile, which could melt frozen hearts. Or at least most of them.
Despite the challenging task, Riddle didn’t intend to give up. He noticed his daughter’s pink walker in the corner of his eye, lying nearby on the floor. It was a gift from Uncle Ace, but Emily wasn’t particularly interested in it. Thank goodness she wasn’t, since it shone in all the colors of the rainbow and played irritating music when moved.
It is something Riddle wouldn’t stand even for a minute.
Another hour had passed, which meant it was almost time for a nap. Emily yawned and snuggled against bunny’s soft fur.
Riddle knew he couldn’t pressure such a young child. Still, most children her age had already taken their first steps long ago.
Was there something wrong with his daughter that caused her to develop more slowly than other children? Or perhaps he was doing something wrong? Should he give her more milk? Should her naps be longer?
Day by day, Riddle worried more and more that he wasn’t trying hard enough, that he was a bad father. Yet Emily slept in his bed every other night, clinging to him like a leech. It was the only way for her to fall asleep peacefully and have beautiful dreams.
Even for a talented and knowledgeable mage like him, children were too complicated.
Though it didn’t change the fact that Riddle loved Emily dearly, and no imperfection of hers could ever alter that.
“All right, it’s already twelve o’clock, which means it's time for your nap. After all, you need energy for the rest of the day.”
Carefully, he grabbed the stuffed animal, releasing it from his daughter’s grasp. She immediately regained some strength and let out a groan, clearly displeased that her favorite toy had been taken away from her so brutally.
She reached for the bunny right away with her small hands.
“Oh, no, young lady.” Riddle smiled slyly and took a big step back from the little girl. “Your friend will wait for you in your bed, right next to its bunny family.”
But Emily couldn’t let that happen. After all, she practically never parted with her plushie, which made her determined to get it back.
From a sitting position, she moved onto her knees and crawled toward her father. With each step she took forward, he took one step back.
Her little face grimaced, and the first tears started to form in her eyes. She had to get her bunny back, no matter what.
Then, something completely unexpected happened. Emily slowly lifted one leg, trying to stand up. Riddle noticed this immediately and put the stuffed animal on the floor before standing behind his daughter.
“We will walk to it together, okay? I’ll hold your hand the whole time, and I won’t let you fall.” With that said, he lifted her up gently and set her on her feet. Despite it not being her first attempt to stand, her legs were shaking like jelly. Riddle grabbed her hands. “Ready?”
Emily proceeded with great caution, putting one leg forward and then the other. She took slow steps, glancing at Riddle every now and then to make sure he was still standing behind her. As if his hands holding hers weren’t enough.
Seeing that she was quite close to the bunny, she sped up significantly. She was doing so well that she didn’t even notice when Riddle moved away slightly so she could take her last two steps by herself.
The little girl squeaked with joy when she was finally able to hug her plush toy.
And then it happened. She realized her father was no longer holding her hands, and she fell onto the floor, landing on her bottom. The room fell silent for a moment until her crying filled it.
Riddle approached her and took her into his arms.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. Nothing happened. Well, except for the fact that you’re walking gracefully. Like a princess.”
He kissed her forehead and carried her to her room, where her plush bunny’s mom and dad were already waiting for her in her bed. Emily yawned one last time and closed her blue eyes, evidently tired from walking.
Riddle stroked her red curls, then left the room and closed the door.
There was a bit of a mess in the living room. A few toys were scattered in the corner, and a pile of dirty dishes was forming in the sink. Riddle sighed. If someone had told him a few years ago that he would become a single father, he would have been furious that anyone would dare wish such a thing on him.
And now he was managing. Somehow. Occasionally, he would call Trey for help, but over time, he seemed to become accustomed to this lifestyle.
Riddle entered the kitchen to brew some tea. As he did, he repeated his plan for the next day in his head. He had to take the completed paperwork to work, go on another big shopping trip, clean Emily’s room a bit…
But most importantly, visit his wife and tell her that their daughter has taken her first steps. What a pity her first word will never be ‘mama’.