Hot Waffles » Zarry ✅

🍴 • 4 • 🍴

Zayn was sitting at the kitchen island, looking through the handbag section of a catalog. Nema was in the high chair next to him, eating a bowl of cereal. "What are you going to be for Halloween this year, Pumpkin? Pa wants to order you a dress."

"Cinderella!" Nema exclaimed.

"Oh that's easy. We can just get you a puffy blue dress to wear, then. But what will uncle Niall wear? Because he's the one that's going to be taking you trick or treating this year."

"A dress." She giggled.

"Oh no. Now, you know he doesn't wear dresses. He's different from me. You have to pick something he'll like."

She smiled. "Uncle Niall can be whatever he wants to be. I just want to be Cinderella."

Zayn sipped from his coffee and turned a page. "And I'm sure he'd be happy to know that."

She ate a bite​ of cereal and waited until the food was chewed and swallowed before speaking again. "Mr. Mummy."

"Yes?"

"Too bad you're not taking me trick or treating because you could be another princess too. I think you wear dresses the best."

"You do?"

"Uh huh."

"Well, that's so sweet of you. Thank you."

She ate more cereal and in walked Harry with wet hair.

"Good morning, loves."

"Hey."

"Good morning, Pa. I was just saying how he wears the best dresses."

"He does, doesn't he?" He came over and kissed her cheek and kissed Zayn on the lips. Then he went to the cabinet for a mug so he could get coffee. "Um... Where's Charlie?"

"He wasn't feeling well this morning. So I gave him some ginger tea and put him back to bed."

"Oh."

"I'm worried about him though."

"Why?"

"He loves to sleep a lot and too often he's not feeling well. Not to mention, he is small for his age. Based on the things I've read online, those are symptoms of malnutrition. Obviously, I can't really understand it because he does eat healthy and he eats enough. But apparently some children just need a little more than others. So I've been looking online and found that there's a chocolate milk that helps boost his immune system and help him grow."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. I think I'll go by the store and check it out today. Maybe you could stay here with him while I go out with Nema."

Harry looked at him with furrowed brows. "The day I actually intended to sleep in late with you, you decide to ditch me for the store? Why don't you just give Marie the name of it when she comes tomorrow and we'll have her go get it."

"No. I think I'd much rather get it myself and take Nema with me. She has not been to a proper grocery store since she's been with us."

"Alright, that's a bit of a reach. We have taken her to stores before."

"I said grocery store. Toy stores, gift shops and candy stores don't count. I mean to actually grab a shopping cart and go shopping for household needs. She has never done that." He held up a finger as he got an idea. "As matter of fact, that gives me an idea. I might just take the whole list and do the shopping myself this week."

He got down from the chair and Harry was still looking at him in confusion. "Why is that at all necessary? You can't wait another day for Marie?"

"This is not about Marie. This is about teaching Nema how to shop on her own. What is she going to do fifteen years down the road when she's twenty one and decides she doesn't want a housekeeper for herself?"