Tarnished Armor
Part 112

Tad and Dixie’s house. Living room. Early morning.

Dixie is in the living room holding Colby. Junior and Jamie are on the couch.

Jamie: Wanna go to the park?

Junior: Not today.

Dixie looks up.

Dixie: You’re pretty protective of your little sister, aren’t you?

Junior: I just think she needs to be around someone she’s used to. No offense, Mom.

Dixie: None taken.

Jamie: Is there any cake left from last night?

Dixie: There are two pieces. You can take one.

Jamie: Okay.

Jaime leaves the room.

Dixie: So.

Junior: What?

Dixie: Are you mad at Jamie?

Junior: What do you mean?

Dixie: Oh, I don’t know. Normally, you would’ve jumped up and grabbed the other piece of pie.

Junior: I’m not hungry.

Dixie: Do you want to talk about it?

Junior: About what?

Dixie: I guess I’ll let you tell me when you’re ready.

Colby reaches out towards Junior and coos.

Dixie: Do you want to hold her?

Junior comes over and takes Colby. Colby grabs at his nose.

Junior: Whoa!

Dixie: Are you okay?

Junior: Yeah.

Junior takes Colby over to the couch.

Dixie: I’ll let you two talk. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.

Junior: Okay.

Dixie goes into the kitchen.

Junior puts Colby down on the couch. He goes over to the crib and grabs a stuffed animal. Then he comes back to Colby and hands it to her. She chews on it.

Junior: I know you're not used to this one, but I think it’s okay. I wish we had the frog here. That was the best.

Colby smiles at Junior.

The front door opens and Jake enters.

Jake: Hey! What’s she doing out of the crib?

Junior: We’re just talking.

Jake: Well, I don’t think it’s too safe for her to be lying around like that on the couch. Where’s your Mom?

Junior: She went in the kitchen.

Jake picks up Colby. The stuffed animal falls away. Colby begins to cry.

Dixie comes out of the kitchen.

Dixie: What happened?

Jake: I think she just missed her daddy. Where’d you go?

Dixie: Into the kitchen. Junior wanted some time alone with Colby.

Colby continues to cry.

Jake: Do you have a waffle?

Dixie: Well, she may not need a waffle right now. Let me see.

Dixie goes over to Jake.

Jake: I can handle this.

Junior passes the stuffed animal to Dixie.

Dixie gives Colby the stuffed animal. Colby begins to settle down.

Jake: That’s right, princess. Everything’s okay. I’m right here.

Dixie: Jake, do you play football?

Jake: What?

Dixie: Football. Men acting all macho, big shoulder pads, touchdowns. Football.

Jake: Why?

Dixie: Sometimes it works better if you hold a baby like a football.

Jake: She’s fine.

Dixie: Football. Trust me.

Jake shifts Colby around. Colby smiles.

Dixie: Junior, how about that piece of cake?

Junior looks towards Colby.

Dixie: We’ll be here when you get back.

Junior: Okay.

Junior leaves.

Jake: Do you really think it’s a good idea to leave an infant alone with a child?

Dixie: It depends on the infant and the child. Liza and Adam have left Colby with Junior before. He knows what to do. And I was right within shouting distance.

Jake: They left her alone with him? Typical. They trust a kid, but not her father. No wonder Junior doesn’t trust me with her. He’s been trained not to. Could you have a talk with him?

Dixie: He’ll be fine once he gets used to the idea.

Jake: I’m not so sure.

Dixie: Well, maybe we need to have a little talk. You and me.

Jake: About what?

Dixie: Junior and Colby.

Jake: I don’t know what he’s told you, but --

Dixie: Junior? He hasn’t said anything. I’m just talking about what I’ve seen. He loves her, Jake. And she loves him. She’s probably spent more time with him in the past few weeks than with you. And like it or not, she really misses Liza and Adam. And Junior reminds her of them. He makes her feel like this is home.

Jake: I’m her father.

Dixie: I know. But I think Colby can handle a little more love, coming from the boy she knows as her big brother.

Jake: Cousin.

Dixie: She knows him as her brother.

Jake: Well, she’s going to have to start learning that I’m her father. Not Adam.

Dixie: And she will. But I think it’s important that a few things stay the same for her. Just for a little while.

Jake: This is hard for me too, Dixie.

Dixie: I know. And I think you’re doing great. Just ....

Jake: What?

Dixie: Just let Colby tell you what to do. And let Junior know it’s okay to love her. And you’ll be fine.

Dixie goes towards the kitchen. Junior comes out of the kitchen door.

Dixie: Well, hello again.

Dixie turns towards Jake.

Dixie: Think about it.

Dixie goes into the kitchen.

Jake jiggles Colby. Junior goes towards the stairs.

Jake: Hey, Junior.

Junior: What?

Jake: Colby and I are going to the park today. Why don’t you come along? And ask Jamie and Amanda if they want to come too.

Junior: Really?

Jake: Really. We’ve got to leave soon, though. Liza’s coming over later, and then I have work. How soon do you think you can be ready?

Junior: Really soon.

Junior goes over to the kitchen.

Junior: Hey, Jamie! Hurry up!

Junior runs upstairs. Jake smiles.

 
Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Eleven
Part One Hundred and Thirteen