‘I think you’re not as big as you look, you’re just wearing tall boots.’
Which was a more astute observation than perhaps he realised.
Cici looked up at her in wonderment.
‘Can I try them on, Daddy, can I? Then you can take a photo and show Samantha I’m as grown up as her.’
She exchanged a glance with Finn, That’d be another story for her mother, but what the hell.
‘Course you can, pet, if Cassie doesn’t mind.’
Tied into the sparkly red boots with the steeple-high heels, Cici held on to the wall with one splayed hand and carefully began a sort of spacewalk up the hall.
‘Look at me, Daddy. These are like stilts,’ she shrieked in excitement. ‘I’m bigger than Con.’
‘You look like a Transformer,’ said Con.
‘I do not. You look like a shithead.’
‘Cici, that’s enough.’
Cassie practically exploded with laughter. For the first time she was getting to observe Finn in his dad role. It felt almost voyeuristic. Cici had wobbled up to her and now the height difference was at least six inches fewer than it had been. The child reached out a chubby index finger. ‘I like your red sparkly eyes, can I touch them?’
Cassie obligingly leaned forward.
‘Eeew, it’s crusty.’ Cici gave a shiver.
‘I know, it’ll probably be stuck on for days.’
Cici contemplated this idea and giggled. ‘That’ll be funny.’
‘You know what, yes it will,’ Cassie agreed warmly.
‘I’d better be off.’ Finn pulled on his jacket. ‘The kids know everything, they can explain it all to you.’
Just then his phone buzzed, he read the message slowly and rolled his eyes.
‘What?’ she mouthed.
‘Kids, go and put your things in the sitting room.’
He turned the phone round to show her.
Sorry DD, actually busy, I have a life.
‘That’s it? What’s DD, darling daddy?’
‘If only. Nope, it’s her new “joke” name for me,Deadbeat Dad.’
‘Oh babe, I’m sorry, that’s rotten.’
His phone beeped again.
Pawning them off on babysitter. Nice one dd?.btw Con sent pic of babysitter shoes. Classy. she a hooker?
Cassie gawked in disbelief, instinctively moving to put her arms around him, but he stepped back and put out his hand.
‘Oh, sorry, sorry. I forgot.’
