Arianne took Aristotle for a bath after a short rest. Mary was old, so Arianne would take care of Aristotle’s needs whenever she was home. She was exhausted but happy to do it. Childhood only happened once, and it was fleeting. She did not want to miss out on Aristotle’s growth.
Heavy snow was falling outside, but the house was just warm enough. After a tiring time in the bathroom, Arianne emerged, drenched in sweat. However, the sight of the fresh-smelling Aristotle brought her a sense of fulfillment. She carried Aristotle back to the room, put on his clothes, and put him in his cot. “Mommy’s going to take a bath. Have fun with daddy, okay?”
Aristotle grinned at her as he ate his fingers. She smiled back.
Mark walked to the cot and looked at Aristotle. “Do you want me to treat you like how Jackson treats Tiffany?” he asked her.
Arianne was taken aback. Then, she answered seriously, “I do, and I don’t. Women like being taken care of, but everyone is different. You and Jackson are very different too. Just do it in your own way. I’m not Tiffie, and I’m probably not as easy to please as she is. I think it’s too forced if you purposely try to imitate him. I’m going to take a bath. You watch Smore.”
Mark pinched Aristotle’s chubby little cheeks as he watched Arianne walk into the bathroom. “Do I look like a block of wood? Do I? Am I not good to your mommy? I think I’m pretty good… I’ve never been this nice to anyone else.”
Aristotle imitated him and punched his face with his little fists. That attack didn’t hurt him at all, but it slammed into his heart. Perhaps… he wasn’t doing enough for Arianne. Even Aristotle thought so!
He waited for Arianne to step out of the shower, then strode forward to take the towel off her hands and dry her hair. “Sit down. I’ll dry your hair.”
Arianne’s heart thumped. She had always been the one to dry his hair. What was with the sudden change? Had the scene from the dinner table shaken him and enlightened him somehow?
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