I stared at her, wondering what exactly had been going through that tiny head of hers when she decided to empty half my kitchen into a single bowl.
Of course.
Why did I even ask?
Elena stared back at me for a moment before a small giggle escaped her lips. Apparently, seeing her father completely defeated by her masterpiece was amusing enough to erase whatever guilt she'd been feeling earlier.
I wanted to lecture her about wasting food, and I definitely intended to teach her later that secretly experimenting with kitchen ingredients wasn't a good idea, but looking at that innocent smile made it difficult to remain annoyed for very long.
Besides, the damage had already been done.
I turned back toward the counter and looked at the enormous bowl one final time. Flour, oil, and several other ingredients had sacrificed themselves for Elena's first attempt at making pancakes, and unfortunately, none of them seemed recoverable. Our original breakfast plan was officially dead unless I went out and replaced everything.
I released a long sigh and rubbed the back of my neck.
So much for my peaceful morning.
"Erza," I called as I began putting a few things back into their places.
Erza glanced away from the television. "What?"
"Can you handle Elena for a while? I'm going shopping." I pointed toward the bowl on the counter. "I need to replace everything our little chef used yesterday, and we're running low on a few other things anyway. I might as well buy everything at once."
Elena looked at the floor the moment I mentioned her contribution to our current shortage.
Erza's eyes briefly moved toward her before returning to me. "Fine. But don't be late."
"I won't."
It was a completely ordinary answer, so I didn't think much about it. I grabbed my wallet and started checking what else I needed before heading out, mentally making a list of everything Elena had apparently declared war against yesterday.
Flour, definitely.
Milk.
Probably more eggs.
Butter too.
And judging by what I'd found floating on top of that batter, cooking oil had better go on the list as well.
I was still thinking when Erza spoke again.
"And..."
I stopped and looked toward her.
Erza hadn't moved from the sofa. Her eyes were still facing the television, but strangely enough, she didn't finish whatever she'd wanted to say. A few seconds passed, and I could almost see her struggling with herself over something that probably shouldn't have been difficult at all.
"What is it?" I asked.
Her fingers shifted slightly against her arm.
Then, without looking at me, she finally said, "...Be careful."
I blinked.
For a second, I genuinely didn't know how to respond.
I was going grocery shopping, not marching into enemy territory. The most dangerous thing waiting for me was probably an argument with some old lady over the last fresh chicken at the market. Still, hearing those words from Erza made me smile, because I knew how much effort something so simple could sometimes require from her.
Erza wasn't incapable of affection. If anything, I'd learned over the years that she cared far more deeply than she knew how to express. The problem was that whenever those feelings reached the surface, she seemed completely lost about what to do with them. So she hid behind that cold expression, hoping nobody would notice.
Unfortunately for her, I was her husband.
"Thanks," I said, smiling. "I will."
Her eyes briefly moved toward me before returning to the television.
"And I'll buy you something while I'm out."
That tiny movement was enough.
A faint redness appeared across her cheeks, and she immediately became very interested in whatever was happening on the television.
I couldn't help myself.
"Uff, Erza. We've been married for this long. You know you can show your husband a little love sometimes."
Her cold eyes immediately moved toward me.
"Who the hell loves you?"
Her voice was perfectly composed.
Her red cheeks were not.
I stared at her for a moment before wisely deciding that survival was more important than winning this argument.
"...No one."
"Good."
"Right."
One day, perhaps my wife would learn how to accept affection normally.
Today clearly wasn't that day.
I grabbed what I needed and turned toward the entrance. "Okay, I'm going. I'll be back soon."
I had barely taken two steps when something suddenly wrapped itself around my leg.
I stopped and looked down.
Elena was clinging to me.
"Hmm? What happened?"
She raised her head.
"Papa."
"Yes, Elena?"
"Elena want shopping."
"Oh." I smiled. "You want to come with Papa?"
Normally, I wouldn't have minded.
Taking Elena shopping could actually be fun when she wasn't trying to put everything she saw into the basket, but today I needed to replace quite a few things.
Between carrying groceries and keeping an eye on her, what should have been a quick trip would probably become an entire expedition.
I gently patted her head. "Not today, Elena. Papa has a lot of things to buy. You stay here with Mama, okay? I'll bring you something."
To my surprise, Elena shook her head immediately.
"No, no."
I tilted my head. "No?"
"Elena don't want go with Papa."
That made me stop.
If she didn't want to come with me, then what exactly did she mean by wanting to go shopping?
Elena finally released my leg. She took a tiny step backward, straightened herself, and placed both hands against her waist. The guilty little girl who had confessed to destroying my pancake ingredients only minutes ago was suddenly gone. In her place stood someone who looked strangely proud of whatever idea had entered her head.
"Elena want to go shopping..."
She paused, looking between me and Erza.
"...alone."
For a moment, I genuinely wondered if I'd heard her correctly.
Apparently, Erza had the exact same thought, because her attention immediately left the television.
"What?" we both said at the same time.
Elena nodded enthusiastically, completely unaware of the problem with what she'd just proposed.
"Yes! Elena go shopping alone!"
I slowly looked toward Erza.
Erza looked at me.
Neither of us spoke, but I could tell from her expression that for once, my wife and I were thinking exactly the same thing.
Our daughter had lost her mind.
To Be Continued...