Even if watching “Bluey is about all I can afford for a first date.
A smile plays at Frankie’s lips before I scoop up my Junie bag and carry it and her into the men’s restroom.
Gerry’s at the urinal, so I turn and hurry right back out, cursing Flo for not having a family restroom before knocking on the door of the women’s restroom. “Anyone in there?”
Before there’s time for an answer, Frankie’s by my side. “I’ll check for you.”
She goes in, then comes back out and holds the door open for me. “All clear.”
“Thanks. There’s no changing table or stalls in the men’s restroom,” I explain as I pass her.
Instead of leaving me by myself, Frankie beats me to the changing table and unfolds it from the wall. “Makes sense. Men are gross. It’s a mess in there.”
“Facts.” I set Junie on the changing table and strip off her wet pants. “It was easier when she was in diapers, but now she’s potty-trained, and she’s got all these questions about anatomy, and why she can’t stand up to pee.”
Junie grips my shoulders to brace herself as she steps into dry undies. “Daddy has a penis,” she offershelpfully.
A laugh bursts from Frankie’s lips in a loud puff. “You’ve got all kinds of tutorials, don’t you, June Bug?”
Junie shakes her head. “No. I habe a bagina.”
Frankie loses it, which delights Junie who repeats, “Daddys habe penises and Junies habe baginas,” until Frankie is nearly doubled over laughing, probably as much about Junie’s private parts song she’s composing in real time as about how red my face is.
Suddenly, Junie stops singing. “What do Frankie’s habe? Penis or bagina?” she asks very seriously.
Frankie stops laughing. Her eyes dart to mine, begging for help.
I should help, but I’m too happy to not be the only one with a red face anymore.
“All the parenting books say to use the proper terminology,” I tell her, trying hard to keep a straight face.
She glares at me before turning back to Junie. “I have a vagina, too,” she says with the confidence of a woman about to march on the capitol.
“Can I see?”
“Junie!” My face catches fire again. “We don’t ask to see people’s private parts! Remember?”
Junie scrunches up her face, trying hard to remember a lesson, I’m not sure I’ve taught her, but I mentally add it to my ever-growing list of Daddy To-Do’s.
“Kinda rough raising a daughter by yourself, mate?” Frankie teases.
“I worry every day I’m screwing up in a million ways,” I sigh.
Frankie’s smirk disappears, and she pins me with a serious look. “You’re a great dad, Cal.”
“You really think so?”
She scoffs and looks away. “Trust me. Assomeone whose dad has screwed up in at least a million ways and could care less, I know what a bad dad is. You’re not it.”
Her eyes stay glued to the outfit bag as she pulls out Junie’s blue dress and holds it up. “This is a pretty sundress, Junie! I can’t wait to see you in it!”
“It has fowers,” Junie points to the big sunflowers on the front.
“Ohhh! Pretty!”
“You turned out pretty good, despite your dad.” I pin Frankie with the same intensity she used on me, even though she keeps her eyes on Junie.
Junie lifts her arms, ready to be dressed, and Frankie finally looks at me. I shrug and step back so she can help Junie. When she slides the dress over Junie’s head, the way she looks at my little girl hits me right in the gut.
