I know that Icarus is secretly spending his own salary to buy my daughter clothes, diapers, and essentials. Yet Maya is still in control, and I worry about whether Zoe will be allowed to attend nursery and then school.
Dread churns in my guts.
Unaware, Zoe happily babbles to herself, crinkling the different sensory materials in the plastic box in front of her between her fingers that I have left out for her to play with.
I have collected them from around the hotel, which sounds so much better than Istolethem.
Robin Hood would steal them from the rich to give to the poor Omega baby, right?
A soft scarf from some movie star, a silk handkerchief from an English Lord, different sized plastic cups to stack or pour with from the Omega bathrooms, and dried kidney beans and lentils that Chriscollectedfrom the kitchen.
I don’t have toys for Zoe. So, I have had to become creative.
Yet I’ve discovered that I don’t need toys because anything can be turned into a game: An empty bag becomes the magicalwhat’s in the baggame and socks can become sock puppets.
Plus, Zoe is endlessly fascinated by sticks.
Then there is my savior, the cardboard box.
Maybe babies are the same as cats. All you need is a cardboard box and they are entertained for hours.
“Mama,” Zoe says. “Look.”
Instantly, my heart melts like it has ever since she learned to call memama.
I was terrified that Zoe wouldn’t recognize me as her mom, when I am forced to be away from her. I shouldn’t have worried. She is as connected to me as I am to her.
As soon as I am watching, Zoe drives the cup through the beans, lifting it above her head like a war trophy. “Cup!”
“Smart Omega,” I praise, clapping.
Zoe gives me a quick look from underneath her eyelashes.
Uh-oh.
I know that look.
She’s about to do something mischievous.
Is that what I used to look like to my dad?
Hell, karma is a bitch.
“Zoe…” I say, warningly.
Too late.
Zoe laughs wildly, before she hurls the beans over the nest.
Bird sits up, punching the air. “That’s right, Scarlet, fight the system.”
I scowl at Bird. “Not helping, bro. It would be helpful if you didn’t confuse her by calling her Will Scarlet every time that she misbehaves.”
“But look how happy mischief makes her. She’s totallyyou, sis. Embrace the new generation of chaos goblin.” Bird pats Zoe on the head. She looks delighted with herself, gripping the scarf and burying her face in it. “She should be initiated into the Merry Men as soon as possible, right?”
I give a lopsided grin. “Are we still fighting the Sheriff?”
Bird’s expression shutters. “Of course, sis, but it’s no longer Hatton. It never was. The Sheriff is that fu—” He catches himself, glancing at Zoe. “Naughty man, his dad.”
