Chapter Two “Mr. Superman”
531 Words
Later that night, the house was finally quiet.
Well… mostly quiet.
Lucy’s baby monitor crackled softly from the bedside table while Vivian knelt beside the bed, carefully folding clothes into her suitcase.
Business suits.
Heels.
Laptop charger.
Baby pictures the girls secretly slipped into her bag earlier.
Daniel sat against the headboard scrolling through his phone, only half paying attention to whatever business article he was reading. Every few seconds, though, he glanced up at Vivian.
“You’re seriously leaving me alone with them,” he muttered.
Vivian chuckled softly. “You say it like I’m abandoning you in the wilderness.”
“Three kids is the wilderness.”
She zipped one side of the suitcase shut before looking at him. “My flight leaves by six tomorrow morning.”
Daniel nodded lazily. “Okay.”
“So you’ll need to get the girls ready by seven.”
“Mhm.”
“And they have to be in school by seven-thirty.”
“Vivian.” He sighed dramatically. “Relax.”
She ignored him completely.
“And Lucy—”
“Oh Lord.”
“—you’ll need to take her with you to work.”
Daniel slowly lowered his phone.
“What?”
“There’s a daycare center in your office building, remember?”
He blinked twice. “You’re serious?”
“Yes, Daniel, I’m serious.” Vivian continued folding clothes calmly. “Her diaper bag already has extra bottles, formula, wipes, diapers, clothes, blankets—”
“Why does someone so tiny need this much equipment?”
“Because babies are basically cute emergencies.”
Daniel groaned and dropped backward onto the pillows.
Vivian kept talking anyway.
“You’ll also need to give the nanny her feeding schedule. It’s written in the side pocket—”
“Babe.” Daniel sat up again. “Relax. I got this.”
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
“No need to tell me what to do.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes really.” He pointed proudly at himself. “You’re talking to Mr. Superman right now.”
Vivian tried not to laugh.
“Mr. Superman doesn’t even know where Lucy’s socks are.”
“I know exactly where they are.”
“Where?”
Daniel opened his mouth confidently…
Then paused.
Vivian folded her arms.
“…In the baby area?”
She burst out laughing so hard she had to sit on the bed.
Daniel looked offended. “Why are there so many tiny drawers in this house?!”
“Because unlike you, some of us organize things.”
He narrowed his eyes playfully. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Oh, absolutely.” Vivian grinned. “Tomorrow morning will be the greatest show of my life.”
Daniel smirked confidently and pulled her gently onto the bed beside him.
“You worry too much,” he murmured. “Everything will be fine.”
Vivian looked at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled knowingly.
“Sure, Daniel.”
Somewhere down the hallway, Lorraine suddenly screamed:
“MOMMY! LOIS STOLE MY TEDDY!”
Daniel closed his eyes immediately.
Vivian patted his shoulder sympathetically.
“Goodnight, Mr. Superman.”
- Writer
