Three Cheers

Busy was bothered that I stayed finishing up some sales on my computer, in my little office, instead of playing with her and Gerard. I had been on a phone call when she came into the room, looking at me with a small frown and her arms crossed angrily. I couldn't help but giggle at her, "Gimme a sec," I told the salesman on the line, I turned to Busy, "What's up, B?"

"Why you in here?" She came over to my desk, "Play."

I chewed at my lip, "I'm doing something real important, baby. When I'm done I'll come play."

She sighed, "Daddy leavin' soon," She climbed onto my lap and settled herself on top of my desk, "Come play."

"I can't, B. I'm really sorry. Let me finish my phone call." I kissed her cheek.

She huffed, "I wait."

I smiled at her, and returned to my phone call. Busy touched my hair, twirling it in her fingers, but she didn't distract me. Actually, it was comforting to know she was right there.

I finished my phone call, just as Gerard came in, "Biz, c'mon, let's draw. Mikey will be here soon and I'll have to go."

Busy looked at him, then at me, "Mama, c'mon, we play."

I coursed my hair back, "Okay, but you're taking a bath when daddy leaves."

"Okay! Okay!" She agreed happily.

I picked Busy up and carried her to the living room. I set her down, and she brought out her markers.


Gerard and I didn't speak to each other as we colored with Busy. She could see us not communicating, and she gave me a funny look. When he left with Mikey, she rolled over to lay on the floor with me.

"Mama, you mad at daddy?" She asked.

I shook my head, "No," I lied, "Why do you ask?"

"You no say bye." She told me; her hazel eyes were tearing me apart.

I sighed, "Me and your daddy had a little fight earlier."

Busy frowned, her eyes lit up in panic, "No yellin'!" She screeched.

I sat up, "Baby, we aren't gonna yell anymore. We talked."

She still frowned, but the panic was gone; "You no love him?"

I felt myself tearing up, "I love him very much, Busy, but he does dumb things that make me mad at him."

"Like what?" She asked.

I tweaked my lips, "He hurts my feelings."

Busy's lips curved down once again, "Why? Daddy no love you?"

I shrugged, "I dunno. You have to ask him."

"He no say sorry?"

"He always says sorry, love. All the time, but I don't want him to say it anymore." I pulled her up, "Me and your daddy aren't... We will never be like how we should have been, but we will always love you."

Busy scratched her head, "I is confused." She exasperated.

I sighed, "Yeah, me too."

Busy didn't question me anymore, she instead crawled up in my lap and began to rub my fingers. Before I knew it, she was snoozing; I kissed her head, lifted her and sat us on the couch. I pulled the folded blanket over us, and rocked her gently.


It took Gerard an entire weekend to come see Busy. She had gotten upset about him not coming back and demanded I call him. Of course, I did, but he never answers for me. I didn't bother to leave a message, he knew what it was about. Busy had huffed her way into her room and cried.

It fucking killed me to see her cry over him. I tried to sooth her, and tell her he was coming back, but she didn't want to hear it. She was a tiny girl with a big, teenager attitude. I let her watch too much of those Hannah Montana shows. She was getting an attitude to herself.

When Gerard had finally come, he knocked on my door, and I almost didn't answer it. I went to Busy's room first; "Busy, I think daddy is here."

She was playing tea party with her dolls, "I no see him." She huffed, "I no like him."

I shook my head, "Busy, knock off the attitude, alright? He's your daddy." 

She frowned at me, "No."

I was on the brink of swatting her butt, "Busy, just say hi."

She shook her head, "No!"

I turned around and went to the door. Just as he prepared to knock again, I opened it, "You jackass." I snapped at him.

He looked surprised, "What?"

"Where the hell have you been?" 

He rolled his eyes, "Jesus Christ, why do you care?"

"I don't, Busy does. She doesn't even want to see you." I told them this quickly and hotly.

His bored look slipped away, "What? Why?"

"Because your dumbass didn't come back. What took you 3 days to see her?!"

He shoved his way through my door, "I had shit to do. We all can't have all the free time in world, October."

I snarled angrily, closing the door. I followed him to Busy's room, where she was speaking toddler talk to her dolls. Gerard went over and knelt beside her, "Hey, baby. I missed you."

Busy looked at him, "Leave me 'lone." 

I went over, "Busy, don't be mean to daddy. Say hi."

She looked up at me, "No."

I exhale heavily, "Busy Marie, I'm not playing around."

She frowned at me with deeply furrowed brows, "I no want to!"

I grabbed her arm and lifted her to swat her butt. She whined at me, but didn't cry. Gerard glared at me, "You didn't have to hit her."

"I barely tapped her, she's wearing a pamper. She isn't crying." I explained angrily, I turned to Busy, "Apologize to daddy."

She frowned, crossing her arms at me, "No."

"October, let me talk to her. Get out."

It was my turn to glare back, "No."

Gerard bit back laughter, his lips tucked between his teeth, "Go." He muttered with a small smile.

I reluctantly turned around and left the room. I stayed by the door, trying to listen, but God, it was like the walls were soundproof. I sighed, picking at my nails, waiting.

Finally Gerard emerged, "Jesus, she's even more stubborn than you are."

"Did she apologize?" I asked.

"If play dress up with me is an apology, then, yes, Busy apologized." He smiled, "I apologized too, then she kicked me in the shin."

I couldn't help but laugh, "That's my girl."

Gerard frowned, "That's not a cute habit to have, you know."

I rolled my eyes, "She's a kid, but I told her about that attitude," I turned towards her open door, "Keep it up, Biz, and you'll never see Disney World again."

Busy whined, "No!"

"Well, be a good girl." I told her.

She huffed, "I be good."

"Alright, then," I reentered her room, "I'm sorry I hit you."

She looked at me, "You no hit me hard, mama. It's funny."

I frowned, "Good to know, B."

"I no be bad." She got up and hugged me, "Promise."

"Pinky promise." I stuck my pinky out for her. She nodded and wrapped her pinky around mine, "I love you, sweetness."

"Love you, too."

Gerard came in, "Let's play now, alright?"

Busy nodded vigorously, "'Kay!"