“He should be the size of a house,” she murmurs absently as she tries to understand something she won’t ever manage. Not with her life experience.
Discipline, I offer silently.That’s why. Which is something that seems to have been sorely lacking in Lavender’s life. But wherever her mind went, it doesn’t dwell as her focus returns to Daisy.
“Come on, Daiz. Think of the washing up it’ll save.”
“We have a dishwasher,” Daisy replies, her voice getting smaller. “And maids.”
“Yeah, but…” Lavender’s words flounder. Her arms, too.
“I don’t want to get told off.” Daisy’s words fall in a rush.
Why would she…who?
“Being told off is okay, you know,” Lavender says, patting her on the head with the spatula. “I used to get told off all the time when I was your age.”
“You did? But why?”
“Because I was a very naughty girl.”
That I can imagine… I give my head a shake because wherever that delightful ribbon of consciousness might take me isn’t useful this morning.
“Everybody is naughty sometimes.”
And some people are naughty more than they ought to be.
“You look like that worries you, Daiz.”
Daisy’s expression results in a pinprick of discomfort in my chest. What kind of worries can a little girl have? No pudding for not eating her greens? Come to think of it, she always clears her plate.
“When was the last time anyone told you off, doll?”
Daisy shakes her head.
“I can keep a secret, you know.”
“I can’t say.” She purses her lips as though the words might escape.
“Course you can. You can tell me anything. I’ve seen it all—the good, the bad, and the smelly. I have four brothers after all.”
“And two sisters,” Daisy adds with a tiny smile. “I’d like a sister. I’d even settle for a little brother.”
My heart plummets because that’s not going to happen.
Unless her shit of a father finds another meal ticket.
Some people shouldn’t be allowed to procreate. Some people might even have an accident to prevent another child’s suffering.
“Sisters are highly overrated.” Lavender gives a twist of her lips. “Weren’t you listening when I told you about all the rotten things they did?”
“You did rotten things, too,” Daisy says in a small voice. “Like when Daniel drank the last of your chocolate milk, and you punched him in the stomach.”
Lavender smiles. “Now, that was a mess. But he never drank the last of my milk again.” Lavender folds from the waist so her eyes meet Daisy’s. “I’ll give you one of my lot if you like.”
“You can’t give people.” Daisy chuckles.
“Your uncle might have something to say about that.” Lavender's quiet murmur is a touch sardonic. But Daisy isn’t listening as she clasps her hands together as though in prayer.
“I really want a baby sister. Or brother.”
