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Hitting the bottoli every day I’ve still got it, and she still can’t resist ood

‘Daddy!’

I spin around, anddown the stairs, his dark blonde hair a tousled mess around his handsoreens sparkle as he launches hih as he sla up my body

‘Guess what?’ he asksinterest I really am curious

‘Nana Lizabeth said we can sleep at her house tonight She’s taking us to the zoo tomorrow!’

I try to conceal my scowl and match his excitement ‘Nana Lizabeth lives too far away, and Daddy likes taking you to the zoo’ I say, throwing hi back towards the mirror ‘See how handso me smile ‘Nana and pappy live ten minutes away I timed it on mummy’s phone’

I’m swiftly reminded that my dear mother-in-law does, in fact, live ten minutes away The beauty of Newquay couldn’t keep Elizabeth and Joseph away frorandchildren--or o for subject change, or distraction tactics--whichever ‘We should go skiing again’ I’ to snare him

‘We already are’ His little hands rest onthe frown that’s just jumped into place

‘We are?’

‘Yes, mummy said so, and she said not to listen to you if you try to put us off our party’

My shoulders sag, and I make alittle temptress ‘Mummy needs daddy’s money to do that’ I’m shameless

‘Why don’t you want us to have a party, daddy?’ His little forehead matchesof shit

‘I do,you’ I adh cheek ‘Mummy will be pleased’