"No! No, you!" Poppy entered the kitchen, holding a clean James and her brows furrowing. She had dried porridge in her hair, and she blinked. "What's happening?"
She sighed slightly, coming over and handing him James. "Here. Take him." Diana screamed at Poppy and Poppy looked back down at her, one eyebrow raised. "I am very disappointed in you, Diana," she said, her voice deadly quiet. Diana looked stricken and burst into tears.
Poppy didn't break eye contact with Diana, her head tilting slightly. "Go to your room right now." Diana clung to her leg, sobbing. "No! No!" "Now, Diana." The girl screamed at Poppy before heading for the stairs, her wails fading as she ran to her room.
"You're much more assertive than I am," he replied easily. "Do you want to take a shower while I clean this up?"
Poppy looked weary, running a hand through her hair before shaking her head. "No. That's okay. I got it."
He stepped closer, taking her hand. "Poppy.. Go take a nice shower. I'll deal with it. I don't mind."
She gave him a look, taking a cloth with her free hand and kneeling down to sop up the milk. "It's fine, Francis. I got it."
She didn't look at him for a moment, her head bent over her work. She slid the damp rag over the edge of the stove where milk droplets had splattered, the liquid sizzling as it met the burner. It wasn't until she wrang the cloth out over the sink before she sighed, looking over at him. "No, it's not... I'm sorry. It's not you."
She was quiet for a moment before moving over to the porridge, bending down and cleaning it up quickly, tossing the goopy remains in the trash.
James gurgled, looking up at him wth a happy grin. Poppy finished cleaning the mess and went to wash her hands, her shoulders slumped.
