Ellie mimics him and places one finger on her lips, telling him to be quiet. He grins, then scoops her up into his arms, and she eagerly places herself between him and Tess, sleeping curled around herself. So Ellie is careful, shifting to face Joel.
Blinking, Joel brushes her tousled morning hair that grows longer through the summer, more brighter in the sunlight pouring through the worn blinds.
āTold me you werenāt gonna shove yourself here first thing in the morning.ā He whispers, feigning being serious.
Ellie pouts, smooth features creasing with sadness, and sheās pulling her own body closer to his, allowing him to hug her and kiss her head, melting with relief and joy.
āBut I love being here.ā She replies shyly, playing with the buttons of his shirt, āWith you, and Mama and- and I donāt take too much space.ā
āMight as well take the whole bed for yourself only, then.ā Joel teases, yet he cradles her signaling the opposite.
āAināt true.ā Sheās quick to interject; he chuckles at the attempt of an accent.
āWhat was that?ā Then, tickling her cheek, āAnd since when you say aināt?
Nodding, he offers an indulgent grin. āGuess some things pass down, uh?ā
Next thing heāll listen to her say howdy and yāall and burst in a fit of giggles like she always does whenever he corrects her. Ellie is a curious, attentive kid, so theyāre pretty careful of what sheās learning, as bad as raising her in the QZ can be. A sadness will remain in him, one of longing for more for her; it used to be reserved to Tess only but since Ellie it has grown towards her, rattling him to his bones.
So next time she plays it off as if she had grown up in Texas, heāll laugh again and make her forget about the holes in her shoes, the lack of vaccines or the biting chill of winter.
Pressing another kiss to her head, Ellie laughs at the brush of his scruff, small hands pawing his facial hair.
āS long. Mama wonāt like it.ā
āWhoās there?ā Comes from across them, and Joelās eyes sparkle with affection when Tessās hand tickles Ellieās side.
āOh! No! Daddy help!ā
āYouāre left to your luck, Ellen.ā He jokes, and Ellie frowns between laughter.
āDaddy I ain't- ain't no Ellen- āround these parts!ā