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Chapter Twenty-Three
Rebel
“Hey, you guys ready or should I come in for a bit?” I ask when Raven opens the door. I’m glad she’s stopped letting Phoenix open the door, but as soon as the little rugrat hears my voice she comes tearing out of the lounge, racing along the hallway and launches herself at me. I remember to crouch just in time to avoid the nut shot. I found out earlier in the week that she’s gotten taller.
“Reb!” she cries, all excitement and giggles, as I lift her and shower her with tickles. This kid is too cute. She’s wormed her way right into my heart. “Come play with me!”
She grabs my hand and attempts to drag me into the house, obviously I let her, chuckling and closing the door behind us.
“Hey, gorgeous,” I say to Raven as I pass her, gently kissing her cheek. “I guess my question got answered.”
She laughs and a glance over my shoulder tells me she’s following us into the lounge where Phoenix has spread toys all over the rug. I join Phoenix and somehow manage to fold my huge frame so I’m sitting cross-legged in amongst a plethora of pink. Phoenix immediately dumps a doll in my lap and tells me I’m playing Polly.
“Would you like some tea?” I ask in a ridiculous high pitched, posh old lady voice and Phoenix immediately starts crying with laughter.
“Mummy! He sounds like Grandmama!” she cries, wiping away tears.
“You really do,” Raven laughs.
“Sorry.” I shrug. “I’ll try again: would you like some tea?” This time I growl in a low, menacing witchy voice and Phoenix squeals with delight.
“No! We’re not playing tea parties, silly!” She scolds me.
“Well, what are we playing?”
“Dinosaurs!” she yells, pulling out a large plastic T-Rex and waving it dangerously close to my eye.
“What type of dinosaur is Polly meant to be?”
“Silly,” she giggles, “she’s not a dinosaur!”
“Then how does she fit into the game?”
“I eat her!” Phoenix lets out an almighty roar - which is so unexpected I jump a little - before launching herself onto my lap and savagely attacking poor Miss Polly with the rabid Rex. I just sit back and let the chaos unfold.
After a moment I catch Raven’s eye and she’s shaking with silent laughter.
“What?” I silently ask her.
“Sucker!” she tells me, letting a chortle fly free. “You’re going to be stuck there all day now!”
I shrug like I don’t care. I mean, we did have plans for today, but I’m happy to cancel them in favour of staying home with my girls...shit.
“Phoenix, would you mind if I just watch the game for a little bit? I’ve not played this one before and I think I should learn it a little first,” I tell the screaming rugrat.
“Sure! You’re really bad at it anyway!”
“What? Why?” Suddenly I’m wounded and I want to dive back in and rise to the challenge.
“You’re not fighting back!”
“Against a dinosaur?” I’m incredulous.
“Girls rock. We don’t need saving and we can beat all the monsters, can’t we mummy?”
“Absolutely, baby,” Raven chimes in, the pride ringing out loud and clear in her voice.
“Ok, you show me, and I’ll move out of your way a little.”
