The Pears
Phil yawned as he walked into the kitchen carrying his daughter and opened the fridge. “Should we try something new this morning?” He asked the tired baby. “We haven’t tried pears yet.” He grabbed the small baby food container and walked over setting Madelyn down in her high chair. He set the baby food on the table before turning around to grab a spoon and bib for her.
He walked back and put a bib on her before kissing her forehead. “Alright, here we go. Let’s try pears. You haven’t had these before.” He pulled up a chair next to her. He opened the food and got a spoonful. He held it up to her lips and smiled when she opened her mouth. “There you go.”
Madelyn took the bite and held it in her mouth for a moment before she made a face. She shook her head and spit out the food quickly.
Phil watched her and wiped her mouth when she spit the food out. “I assume that means you don’t like it.” He sighed and frowned. “Could you try another bite?” He asked just as Deke walked in. He looked over at the younger man and frowned when he saw a small container in his hand. “What are you eating?”
“Something from the fridge.” Deke shrugged and took another bite. “It’s fruity. I like fruit.”
Phil nodded slightly and tried to hold back a laugh. “You should check the container Deke.” He chuckled. “I think that’s some of Madelyn’s baby food.”
Deke frowned. “Are you sure?” He looked at the container in his hand. “It doesn’t have a label or anything.”
“I’m pretty sure that it’s the left over from last night that we put in a different container without a label because I threw out the lid.” Phil chuckled.
Deke shrugged not really bothered. “It’s good.” He said and smiled at Madelyn when she squealed for attention. He put the container and the spoon in the sink before walking back over to her. He picked up her spoon and offered her a bite of her pears. “Is this as good as the other stuff?” He asked her.
Madelyn smiled and happily ate the bite from Deke.
“Mm, I think that’s a yes, right?” Deke said and smiled happily.
Phil watched and shook his head surprised that she accepted the bite from Deke. “You’re breaking your old man’s heart here, Madelyn.” He teased though he was glad she was eating. He stood up stroking her cheek lightly before he went to make some coffee for himself.
Madelyn ate happily as Deke fed her and watched her father in the kitchen. She giggled and after a few bites she reached up managing to grab the spoon from Deke’s hand. She squealed and swung it around flinging food onto Deke.
Deke frowned. “Woah, that’s not cool.” He stepped back and looked at the pears on his shirt.
Phil chuckled from where he leaned against the counter. “I think that’s a little reassuring.” He sipped his coffee happily. “Here.” He tossed a cloth over to Deke. “You started to feed her so you have to finish feeding her too. That’s the rule.”
“I know.” Deke rolled his eyes and wiped the pears from his shirt. He tossed the cloth on that table and sat down. He gently took the spoon back from her and started to feed her again. “You want some more?”
Madelyn huffed and turned her head away from Deke with a whine.
Phil watched in amusement and started to make some breakfast for himself since Deke was feeding Madeline. “Do you want some toast, Deke?” He offered. “We have jam to go on it.”
Deke nodded. “I’d love some.” He told Phil and continued to try feed Madelyn, who still refused the next bite. “Madelyn May, why won’t you eat for me?” He asked. “Look, I’ll eat some.” He grabbed his spoon and ate a spoonful of her pears. “See that’s good.”
Madelyne watched Deke curiously and leaned closer. She hesitantly opened her mouth welcoming another bite.
“There we go.” Deke smiled at her and gave her another spoonful. “You have to eat so you get big and strong and grow up.” He told her.
Melinda walked into the kitchen and smiled as she saw Madelyn. “Trying something new this morning?” She asked as she walked over to make some tea.
Phil nodded and kissed her temple. “Pears. She wouldn’t eat any for me so Deke tried and now he’s stuck feeding her.”
“Don’t make it sound like such a chore to care for our daughter, Phil.” Melinda scolded and leaned closer to him.
Phil wrapped his arm around her and held her close. He yawned and looked back to see how Madelyn was doing. “I was thinking.” He started and looked down at Melinda. “Maybe it’s time we went out on a date or something. We haven’t had time alone since Madelyn was born.”
Melinda leaned into Phil’s chest and frowned. “I don’t know. She’s still so small.” She murmured hesitantly. “She’s only five months old.”
“I’m not saying overnight or anything, just a few hours. We could just go out to dinner together then come back.” He assured his wife. “Between Jemma, Deke, Mack and Daisy, I think that Madelyn will be okay and we don’t have to pay them because they work for us.”
She sighed watching their daughter. “Maybe.”
“Come on, Lin. Let me do something nice for you because you've done so much for me.” He looked at her gently. “What if we stay here? I will set up a nice dinner for us on the Zephyr. Like old times but nicer. We won't be far from Maddy so if anything goes terribly wrong.”
She hesitated a moment but nodded. “Fine. I can do that.” She agreed.
“Perfect.” He smiled widely and kissed her. “We’ll do it tonight.” He told her and got the toast out of the toaster.
“Tonight?” She asked and frowned. “No, that’s too soon.”
“Tonight,” Phil told her and walked over setting a plate of toast down for Deke.