Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“This is so beautiful!”
She swung around in a circle, her arms out.
Macca laughed. “Glad you like it, sweet pea. But just stay here please, I want to go over the rules.”
She let her lip drop out. “Rules? I don’t think you should have rules on a picnic.”
“Well, you would be wrong, little one. First of all, no wandering away. If you need to pee, tell me. But you don’t leave my eyesight, understand?”
“Yes, Daddy. Can I put my feet in the water?”
“Baby, that water is freezing. I want you to be careful and not get too close to the creek unless I’m with you. All right?”
She pouted but nodded.
“I’m going to get the picnic set up.”
“I’ll help you, Daddy.”
They laid down a red and black checked blanket and then Macca pulled out some sandwiches, a container filled with potato salad and another with cut-up fruit in it.
“Yum!”
“Sit down and eat some lunch, sweet pea. You can take off your gloves and hat while you eat. If you’re a good girl and eat plenty, I even have a treat for you after.”
She clapped her hands as she sat on the blanket. He even had a small picnic set with plastic plates, forks and knives.
He handed over a bottle of water to her. “Drink that up, sweet pea.”
“No thanks, Daddy. I’m not thirsty.”
She drew off her gloves so she could pick up her sandwich. Yes. Ham and cheese.
“Gigi, drink your water, please,” he said in a low, stern voice.
She sighed. “Daddy, I don’t want to drink it.”
He frowned. “Why not?”
She blushed. “Because if I drink, I’ll have to pee. And there’s not exactly any toilets out here.”
He grinned at her. “If you have to pee, we can find you a bush. Not that there’s anyone around to see. Drink your water.”
Pee behind a bush? Good Lord. She couldn’t do that. Gigi had never even been camping. She’d definitely never had to pee behind a bush. But she knew Macca wouldn’t let her get by without drinking anything. He was very careful with her health.
She took a few sips of her water to appease him. But she definitely wasn’t drinking all of it.
She happily ate her sandwich and a bit of potato salad before she was too full to fit anything else in. The scenery was so soothing that she sighed happily.
“You good, sweet pea?”
“Yeah. This was a great idea, Daddy. I think we should do this every day.”
“Might be a bit difficult to do every day, but while the weather holds and if I’m here, we can come out here as often as we like.”
“Really?” She smiled at him widely.
“Of course. I can’t believe you hadn’t been on a picnic before.” He frowned.
Gigi shrugged. She didn’t mind so much since it meant her first picnic got to be with Macca.
“Want some more potato salad, sweet pea?”
“No thanks. I’m full.”
“Too full for your treat?”
“Never too full for treats, Daddy.”
“Five more sips of water and I’ll get it for you.”
She sighed. But she guessed it was a fair deal. She took five sips under his watchful eye. Then he drew out a package. She squealed with delight.
“Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups! My favorite.”
He poured a couple into her hand and she munched on them. “Yum, thanks Daddy.”
“You’re welcome, sweet pea.”
“Can I go explorin’ now?” she pleaded.
He looked up at the sky with a frown. “I don’t like the look of those clouds gathering. It wasn’t meant to rain until tonight.”
“I don’t want to leave just yet. Please, Daddy.”
“You have ten minutes while I pack everything up. I want to get us home in case that rain comes early. What’re the rules?”
“Don’t go too far and don’t go too close to the creek,” she repeated. Then she jumped up.
“Freeze!” he said.
She froze, not moving an inch.
“You can move around, sweet pea. Just stay in the same spot. In fact, I really do insist that you breathe at least.”
She let out her breath in a big whoosh. “I thought there might have been a snake. I don’t like snakes. Why’d you tell me to freeze then, Daddy? Was it a game? Do I win a prize?”
He rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t a game. What have you forgotten to do before going exploring?”
Hmm. What did she forget? She grinned. She had it!
“To give you a kiss.” She bent over, placed her hands on his shoulders and smacked her lips down on his cheek. “There you are, Daddy!”
“Well, thank you. I’ll always take your kisses. However, I was talking about your gloves and hat.”
“Oh. Right. I knew that.”
“And I want you to drink some more water too, please.”
She sighed but took a few more sips. Luckily, she didn’t need to pee. Yet. Macca stood and helped her with her gloves then placed her hat on her head. He gave her a sharp slap on the ass. “Off you go, sweet pea. But stay where I can see you.”