“Put him back, baby, he wants to go home now,” Quinn said as she struggled down into an awkward squat, keeping a firm arm around Elise who tried to join her brother. “Look at you, you’re filthy.”
“Just dirt.” Adam dropped the worm into the puddle, giggling as it splashed and disappeared into the thick muck. Turning his attention to the mud squelching under his soggy shoes, he began to scrape it up in great palmfuls.
“Adam, stop that. Let’s go inside and get you cleaned up.” Laboring to her feet, she held out a hand to the mud caked toddler.
“No! Play.” Adam huffed and turned back to his mess, slapping his hands together to make brown tinged water spray in every direction.
“Adam, get up right now and come inside.”
“Quinn.”
The sharp bark of her name had her whirling around, clutching Elise closer and hiding Adam behind the fall of her skirt as Tobias stalked towards them. Strides too purposeful and steady, she was surprised when he stopped well out of arm’s reach.
“It’s only dirt. Meghan’s getting a washcloth for him now,” Tobias said, his measured tone at odds with the midnight hue of his gaze. The sweep of his hand was too sharp, making Quinn flinch as he gestured at the plates and bowls scattered over the green grass and a woven blanket. “They need to eat and it’s already here and ready.”
“A picnic…” Voice shrill, her scoffing laugh a caw of disbelief, Quinn adjusted Elise’s weight as she sent a blind hand back for Adam’s. “I don’t think so.”
“You need sun, they need to play. I made sandwiches.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m trying, the least you can do is make an attempt,” he muttered on a faint growl.
Sucking in a breath to snarl an obscenity at him, Quinn became distracted as Adam’s hands snuck up the back of her skirt to paint her calves in slimy cold. With a squeal she jumped away, crashing into Tobias’ chest when his arm came out to steady her.
“Mama dirty,” Adam shouted, followed by a cackling laugh as he held up his muddy hands.
“Adam, we don’t do that,” Tobias said, any admonishment lost in the twitch of his lips as he tried not to laugh.
“It isn’t funny,” Quinn hissed at Tobias, turning back to Adam with a severity that had him ducking his head between his shoulders. “Say you’re sorry.”
“Sorry, Mama.”
“Like you mean it.”
“I sorry, Mama.”
“Now get out of the mud. It’s time to eat.” Quinn shoved Tobias’ arm away, huffing a sigh as she stomped her way up the lawn towards the patio where Meghan waited with wet towels.
Once everyone was clean and most of the way dry, Quinn helped the kids get to the serious business of eating the sandwiches Tobias had made. She still couldn’t believe he’d done all of this. For a man she’d never seen step foot into the extravagant kitchen he owned, it was odd seeing the simple meal laid out with such precision. Even after the kids got hold of the plates and tipped everything over. Elise found the mustard fascinating while Adam had a very angry discussion with Tobias about the horror of the pears he’d provided.
Quinn nibbled at a piece of bread and an apple slice, and even Adam didn’t say a word about how little she was eating. Tobias kept sneaking little glances at her, the ghost of a smile on his lips whenever he turned his attention from his children to her.
There was no denying his love for them. She’d never known an Alpha to be so involved with his offspring, spending time talking and playing with them. He even snatched a fresh towel from Meghan’s hands, wiping away the bright golden smears Elise painted all over her cheeks and neck.
Now, while Quinn stretched in the sunshine and basked in the warmth of the day, he held Elise in his lap as he taught them a game of patty-cake. She would have laughed outright if he hadn’t been so serious about it, approaching the simple game as if it was a business transaction.
Quinn might have snickered a little when Elise drooled all over his fingers though.
“You look better,” Tobias said, quiet as a whisper as Adam led Elise around the yard, onto a new game now that they were bored with his.
Quinn made a noncommittal sound, shading her eyes as she kept an eye on the toddling pair. The little food she’d eaten was remaining right where she put it, but she still felt sick. A bitter burn in the back of her throat that threatened but didn’t appear to want to send her running for the bathroom.
At least not yet.
“Why don’t we go inside, get you back in bed. You should try to get some more rest.”
While not quite a demand, his tone brooked no argument as Tobias climbed to his feet, reaching a hand down to help Quinn. A dismissive wave pushed him away, Quinn leaning forward with a wry twist of her lips as Adam started leading Elise straight for the mud puddle he’d found earlier.
