***
John tiptoed into Bella’s room, trying not to wake her. The night-light shone with a soft pink glow. He stood where he was, watching his daughter as she dreamed what he hoped were sweet dreams.
As soon as he moved, his foot hit a squeaky floorboard and Bella’s eyes opened.
“Daddy.” She jumped out of bed and rushed toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You were supposed to come to the mall with me.”
John hugged her tight. “I know, sweet pea. Something happened at work and I couldn’t make it. Mrs. Daniels said you went to the mall with Rachel and Tank. Did you have a good time?”
Bella let go of his waist and pulled him across to her bed. “It was awesome. We went there after we finished math. Guess what we found for Poppy?”
“A pogo stick with pink tassels?”
Bella shook her head. “No,” she giggled.
“A purple people eater with yellow spots?”
Bella shook her head again. “I’ll give you a clue. It makes noise.”
John hoped she hadn’t bought Poppy a puppy or a kitten. They might be making a trip back to the pet store if that had happened. “A soft toy shaped like a sheep that goes, baa?”
Bella wiggled off her bed and took a box off the dresser. “Close your eyes, dad.”
He closed his eyes. She turned the lights on, then lifted something out of the box.
“You can open your eyes now,” Bella said from beside him.
John looked at his daughter, then across at the toy poodle sitting on the floor.
Bella handed him a remote control. “It’s a miniature Labradoodle. Once she gets used to your voice, she’ll follow all of your commands. Watch this…”
She took a step away from him and said, “Jasmine, heel.” The toy dog stood up and walked across to Bella, sitting in front of her with a little yip.
“Good dog,” Bella crooned. She scratched behind the toy’s ears, then said, “Jasmine, follow.” Bella started walking across the room and Jasmine followed her. When Bella stopped, Jasmine stopped.
John stared at the toy dog. “That’s pretty advanced technology for a nine-year-old’s birthday present.”
Bella grinned. “She poops, too.”
He looked at the remote control. Sure enough, what he presumed was a poop button was strategically placed at the bottom of the console. “How much did Jasmine cost?”
Even though they had a lot of money, he wanted Bella to appreciate life and work hard for what she wanted. She got pocket money each week, but she had a list of chores she needed to do to earn it. He didn’t want her thinking that life came served on a silver plate. Or in this case, served to her friend with a battery-controlled remote.
“The lady in the store said it was the last one she had. It was the demo…demonstrating…the one they show people. Jasmine had a broken leg, but Tank knew a man who could fix it. I didn’t think Poppy would mind if Jasmine had been to the robot doctor. She’s going to love her.” Bella looked worried. “Rachel thought it would be okay to give Poppy a dog. Jasmine’s not real and she doesn’t even need to poop because she only pretends to eat food.”
John looked into his daughter’s big brown eyes.
“Please, dad. It was only a few dollars over my limit. I told Rachel I would help Mrs. Daniels vacuum the house tomorrow and take the trash out twice. Tank said I could help him clean his truck.”
John was finding it hard to believe that the toy had cost only a few dollars more than Bella’s budget. Broken paw or not, the technology behind it should have made it retail for hundreds of dollars.
He looked at the dog, then back at Bella. He felt guilty that he hadn’t gone to the mall with her. Guilty that he couldn’t spend more time with her each day.
He relaxed his face muscles and got rid of the frown that Bella thought was for her. “I think Poppy’s going to love her birthday present. It was a great choice.” He hugged Bella tight and thanked his lucky stars for Tank and Rachel. Bella had enjoyed her time with them and she didn’t think he was a jerk for staying at work. “What do you say about going to bed now?”
She picked the toy dog off the floor and flicked a black switch on its stomach. “Can you read me another chapter of my book?”
“Where are we up to?” He put the dog in its box and closed the lid.
Bella passed him her copy of Anne of Green Gables. “The last chapter. Why do you think Marilla was angry with John Blythe when she was younger? She really liked him.”
“I think she was trying to find her own happiness,” John said carefully.
“Just like us.” Bella got into bed and wiggled down until only her head appeared above her blanket. “I love you, dad.”
“I love you, too.” He sat beside Bella and opened her book to the last chapter.
As he started reading, he thought about the characters LM Montgomery had created. More than one hundred years after Anne of Green Gables had first been published, Bella was still able to connect with Anne and the ups and downs of her life.
He wondered what a modern day Anne Shirley would have been like. He looked down at Bella and sighed.
She would have been just as brave and stubborn as Bella was. And just as willing to let people into her heart.