Page 42 of Draft Pick
“Sweetie, I don’t think I even know how to make pancakes. What about waffles? Pretty sure Ms. Vanna grabbed some chocolate chip ones from the store the other day. You’re favorite.” I grin.
Addie’s shoulders drop, but her smile stays. “I guess that’ll do. Let’s go!” And she grabs my hand, dragging me down the stairs and to the kitchen.
Note to self: learn how to make pancakes.
I’m sure I can find someone to teach me. Or at least guide me to make sure they’re edible.
“First, we need syrup!” Addie cheers, running to the pantry while I secure the frozen waffles. I own a restaurant and can’t even make pancakes. I really need to up my parenting game.
“I’ll put the waffles in the toaster,” I tell her, popping them in quickly.
“What about toppings?”
I stare blankly, remembering I still need to grocery shop. “Uh, we have strawberries.”
Addie tilts her head in disbelief, and I know sometime in the near future, she’ll be the one teaching her old man all the tricks of the trade. In this case, what counts as appropriate waffle toppings. I bet her pancake toppings will be even more extreme.
I’m up for the challenge, baby girl.
“Add sprinkles, and we have a deal.” She holds her hand out, bartering with me like the strong little girl she is. I’m proud and also really hoping I’ve got sprinkles somewhere in this kitchen.
I hold up a finger and scurry through the cabinets, exhaling dramatically when I find what I’m looking for. Well, not exactly, but they’ll have to do. I turn to face her, loving that despite it being late, Addie plants herself on top of the island, ready to embrace carb overload.
“They’re not rainbow, but can I offer you Halloween ones?” I lift the bottle of sprinkles and inspect the label. “Bats and pumpkins, to be exact.”
“Hmm.” She scrunches her nose before holding her hand out to shake mine. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
I clap. “Woo! That’s what I’m talking about. Now, take a seat and be prepared for the best waffle of your life, Doodle bug.”
Addie crosses her legs as she waits patiently, her purple chipmunk pajamas brightening up the warmth of our downstairs. Upstairs is an entirely different feel. It’s as if neon glitter and Candyland made a baby.
“Why do you always call me Doodle, Daddy?”
I pause. “That’s a very good question,” I tell her, squirting whipped cream onto my finger and tapping her nose. “When you were itty bitty, you loved to draw me pictures. Everywhere we went, you had your pencil and notebook. It was my favorite thing.”
“What kinds of things did I draw?” she asks, voice squealing in intrigue. I set her waffle beside her and grab a fork, poking it in the center. “Oh, all kinds of things. But mostly princesses and baseballs.”
“Those aremyfavorite things, Daddy!”
Always have been.“I know they are. But want to know what I love even more than your doodles, princesses, and baseball?”
“What?” she asks, grabbing the end of the fork and lifting the entire waffle in the air. Addie’s mouth drops, all the syrup, sprinkles, and whipped cream sliding off. “Whoa!”
She takes a bite, not caring about the mess, and I smile. “You,” I say proudly, kissing her forehead. “Youare my most favorite thing, Adeline. And I’ll love you forever.”
“And like me for always?” We quote our favorite children’s book often to each other; the memory of Addie as a three-year-old is always at the back of my mind. Before she was in grade school, she’d join me on the road with Vanna for away games when Hilary worked, always packing a bag full of her little essentials.
And among all the art supplies, princess dresses, and dolls was her favorite book. Our book together.
Love You Foreverby Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw.
“As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” I hold her close, knowing full well I’ll be covered in syrup, but I don’t care.
“I’m sorry for keeping you awake, Daddy.”
I shake my head and hold her cheeks. “Don’t apologize. I’m so proud of you, Doodle. But…” I draw out. “Doesn’t mean you don’t need to hurry up and get to bed. It’s a school night. We can hold a rap concert and late-night eats on the weekend, sound good?”
“Sounds good!” Addie cheers. “King Size taught me that song! It’s so fun.” She starts to sing it again, and I make a mental reminder to beat the shit out of King at Monday night’s game.
