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Nick and Charlie have never been happier, at 32 & 33 life is pretty sweet for them. They’re married and they have a gorgeous three year old daughter called Sarah, along with their dog Daisy.
Over the last several years the couple have grown to really enjoy their weekends which is reserved strictly for fun family activities without work distractions. This particular slightly sunny Saturday in October was no exception.
Having a young child as well as a dog that woke up early meant Nick and Charlie has become morning people and decided to use it to get in extra time as a family, today the pair decided to drive an hour away to a local forest so that Sarah and Daisy could play in the leaves.
The couple were prepared and dressed their daughter In her purple raincoat and matching wellington boots with warm winter layers underneath.
This particular forest also had a playground with picnic tables so Nick had thought ahead and packed them a picnic lunch with all their favourite snacks. After spending awhile chasing Daisy and throwing sticks for her, Sarah decided that it was time to sit down with her dads and eat the yummy treats her papa had made for her.
“Daddy after lunch will you push me on the zip line?” She asked taking a bite of her muffin, “you run really quick so I can go so fast!”
Charlie giggled before responding, “of course I will, baby.”
He loved seeing the world through his daughter’s eyes and he felt so lucky he got to Experience it with Nick.
“Did you know I got daddy to join my rugby team In secondary school JUST because he could run really fast?” Nick asked finishing his crisps.
Sarah looked up at her papa and laughed, “that’s not true! Daddy joined the team because he loves you more than anyone else in the world!”
Nick chuckled, his daughter knew him so well. “That’s true too, princess.” He said kissing her forehead.
As promised Charlie spent ages pushing Sarah on the zip line making sure she got to go SUPER fast. When he looked over he could see Nick seeing on the benches with Daisy filming them and for a moment he felt like he was 15 again playing with Nellie while Nick filmed. He missed Nellie.
Sarah did several rounds on the zip line before deciding to build a huge pile of fallen leaves to jump in with Daisy.
“this is the best day ever!” She squealed as her dads helped her gather up more leaves. “Papa! Look at Daisy, she’s running into the leaves!”
Nick couldn’t stop smiling as both Daisy and Sarah ran around happily. Charlie was really enjoying himself and was running towards the pile as Sarah clapped for him.
“Look at me! This is what my speed is really for!” Charlie cheered aiming for the leaves with a youthful laugh.
Somehow Sarah had even encouraged Nick to help her onto the picnic table so she could jump off into the leaves multiple times, she was an outdoorsy girl that’s for sure.
Daisy saw a fallen log and ran over to it before crawling under it making everyone laugh as she wiggled her butt in a cute way.
“Watch me! I’m going to jump over it!” Sarah announced excitedly.
Unfortunately she didn’t pick up one of her feet up high enough and it caught the log, tearing her down. She landed quickly with her hands in the dirt, and instantly started crying.
“My foot!!” She cried out, clutching her right leg.
Being the closest to her, Charlie immediately got down on the ground next to her and guided her into a sitting position. “Oh baby. Let me see, where does it hurt?”
Sarah flinched and slowly pointed at her right foot again as Nick kneeled down beside her holding daisy in his arms.
Charlie rubbed the boot gently in the hopes of comforting her.
“It really hurts daddy!” She cried again, still not getting up which was unlike her.
“Can you stand up for me princess?” Nick asked encouragingly, “that’s it. Good girl.”
Charlie held out a hand, but as she tried to put her right foot down but flinching the second it made contact with the ground. “I know it hurts but you’re in shock. Shall we take a few steps to the bench so we wash your hands with wipes?”
Carefully & clutching her dad’s hand Sarah tried again putting her foot down and whining as she put weight on it, quickly shifting her weight onto the other foot.
“You’re doing so well!” Charlie encouraged as he noticed she was limping, “almost there.”
As soon as she reached the bench Sarah sat down. “Walking made it hurt more.” She cried again, “I don’t like it.”
Charlie sat down beside her and wiped her hands and face with baby wipes Nick had got out ready for him.
“Do you want papa to have a good look at your foot?” Nick asked kneeling on the ground in front of his very teary eyed daughter. She continued to cry and just nodded. “Let’s take your wellie off.”
Sarah cried out again as Nick gently pulled off the shoe and he tried to feel parts of her foot.
“Sorry, I know it’s not nice. Tell me what hurts the most.” Nick explained As he gently touched different parts of her foot.
He suspected she’d hurt her ankle so was gently rubbing closer and closer to that area. When he made it to her ankle she yelped out and put a hand on top of his.
“Here papa, all round.” She cried tears down her cheeks as she pointed to her ankle.
Charlie knew nothing about injuries and Nick had taken sports physio in uni so he just sat next to his daughter rubbing her arm as daisy sat in his lap patiently.
Nick’s heart broke seeing his daughter like this, he could tell she was in pain.
“Can you wiggle your toes? Try for me?” He asked gently tapping on her toes, something that usually would’ve earned a smile.
As she tried to move her toes, Nick watched Sarah’s face screw up.
“Hurts, hurts up in my foot.” She replied tearing up.
Nick leaned forward and kissed Sarah’s forehead, “Aw. Sarah, papa loves you.”
Being as careful as he could, Nick very gently removed her sock & sure enough it was a little red & starting to swell.
All around her ankle was what hurt the most and a little bit of her upper foot, Nick suspected she’d sprained her ankle but he knew that his mum would be able to tell for sure if it was broken as she was an ex nurse.
“Do you think you can keep playing?” Charlie asked as Nick continued looking at her foot, the response was unsurprising.
“No, I want to go home.” She whined, tears still in her eyes.
Nick nodded as he put her sock back on, “I think that’s for the best. Really I’d like nanna Sarah to take a look at your foot, would that be okay?”
“Okay, as long as you carry me to the car & I don’t have to put my wellie back on!” She replied holding out her arms to Nick.
Determined to do anything to get a smile out of his daughter, Nick scooped up Sarah and gently put her on his back. “Is that better, princess?”
He could hear her giggling behind him which was a good thing.
Being as quick as possible Charlie packed up the family’s belongings and they headed back to the car, usually Sarah loved racing daisy back but today she was content on Nick’s back.
On the walk back to the car Charlie had texted Sarah and explained the situation, she very happily agreed to meet them back at the house with her first aid box.
As the family got into the car and began heading home, Nick started to prepare their daughter for what would happen when they got home. “Sarah baby, you know we’ve talked about how nanna used to be a nurse? Well she’s going to meet us at home so she can take a little look at your foot just like I did but nanna knows more. Don’t worry daddy & I will be with you the whole time, okay?”
“Okay papa, will you hold my hand?” Sarah asked from the back seat.
“Of course, baby.”
When Nick’s mum arrived, she went straight over to the couch where her granddaughter was sat beside her papa. “Hi Sarah, daddy told me you hurt your foot at the park. Can you walk around the coffee table before I have a little look at it?”
Little Sarah shook her head before burying it into Nick’s hoodie, “I walked for papa at the park and it hurt.”
Nanna rubbed her arm gently, “I know sweetheart but i know you’re a big brave girl and if you can manage a few steps for me I might have a treat in my bag for you. Can you try?”
In the most perfect timing, Charlie walked in and sat down in the beanbag by the tv, “Sarah can you walk into my hug? Come on baby.” He asked opening his arms.
Full of nerves Sarah managed to stand up and limp into Charlie’s arms, obviously wincing when she put weight on her injured foot. “That’s my good girl.” He kissed her cheek.
Whilst she sat in Charlie’s lap, Sarah let her nanna check her foot just as papa had at the park.
“See that wasn’t so bad was it, poppet?” Nanna asked as she put a couple of cushions under her granddaughter’s injury, “Nick will you get me an ice pack out of the freezer?”
Making sure to be as careful as possible Nanna Sarah wrapped the injured foot in bandage leaving plenty of room for additional swelling.
“What’s that nanna?” Little Sarah asked pointing to the white bandage around her foot.
“That’s called a bandage, it’s going to support your poorly foot and help make it better while you rest. Daddy’s got you an ice pack here, I’m just going to lay it on your foot and it’s going to help you feel better. Ooh it’s cold isn’t it?”
“But it still hurts.” Sarah replied crossing her arms, patience didn’t come easily to the three year old. “This is the worst day ever!”
“I know baby, I’ll go get you some calpol and some treats from my bag. You lay there.” She bent down to kiss her granddaughter’s forehead as she whimpered. “Poor baby.”
Whilst she was in the kitchen she spoke to Nick and Charlie and explained that she suspected they were right and Sarah had managed to sprain her ankle. She also explained that in order for it to heal properly then little Sarah would need to keep her foot elevated and stay off it, which isn’t easy when you’re three. The grown ups decided they would make it as pleasant experience as possible and make sure Sarah felt pampered constantly.
“Look what I’ve got for my favourite patient!” Nanna Sarah said, holding out a bag of giant buttons, “take this calpol for me and I’ll open the buttons for you!”
Despite hating medicines, Sarah took the calpol without complaint and held out her chubby little fingers for her buttons, “thank you nanna!”
After his mum left, Nick helped Sarah change into pyjamas and made up a little bed for her on the couch.
“Papa, will you watch the little mermaid with me?” Sarah asked as he carried her into the lounge, making sure her foot was still elevated under a pillow. “Please!”
Nick gently placed her down on the couch and fluffed her pillows before covering her with her duvet, the little bandaged foot peeking out the bottom of the duvet. “Of course I will.” He placed a kiss on her forehead.
“Oh no Daisy! It looks like we’re missing out on movie night!” Charlie exclaimed when he returned from the dog walk and heard a movie playing, “let’s join them!”
Once he’d filled up Daisy’s bowls with food and water then Charlie climbed onto the couch beside his daughter so she was sandwiched between her dads.
Just the same as when she was sick, Sarah wouldn’t let her dads’ leave her side for a second once they’d sat down with her. Charlie loved that their daughter had nick’s clingy side.
“Sarah baby, which one of us do you want to make your dinner?” Nick asked hopefully after laying on the couch for over two hours.
Sarah just shook her head leaning against his chest, “I want you to order McDonald’s from your phone!”
Charlie giggled from the other side of the couch, his daughter was a smart girl, today he was more than happy to indulge her. “Ooh I like that idea, papa will you order me a McFlurry too!”
Whilst Nick ordered his family dinner, Charlie got out a colouring book and pens then put on another Disney movie. So far it was proving pretty easy to keep Sarah off her injured foot.
The doorbell rang and Sarah tried to pull her duvet off, thinking quickly Nick covered her back up and said, “stay here with me and daddy will bring it to you on the lap tray. He’ll serve you like the princess you are!”
Sarah pouted and tried to wiggle free, “I want my ice cream! It’ll melt if we’re not fast!”
“It’s okay princess you can just eat it first, I promise!” Nick told her, getting her comfortable again.
As promised Charlie returned with the lap tray and passed it to Nick so he could sit down.
After another round of calpol Sarah got to eat her ice cream followed by her chicken nuggets and fries.
“That was SO yummy!” She announced before moving her pillow onto Charlie’s chest and laying on top of it as he cuddled her.
The couple decided they weren’t going to push bedtime on their daughter especially when she was calmly resting on the couch instead they’d let her fall asleep then carry her into bed.
The parents took it in turns to escape and make cups of tea whilst the other stayed on the couch with their patient.
“Daddy I want warm choccy milk!” Sarah asked during big hero six, “but the way you make it. Please.”
Charlie realised in this moment that his little girl had him wrapped around her little head because he found himself unable to say no. Between that adorable little voice of hers & the little bandaged foot peeking out of her duvet, he was sold.
“But sweetheart you’ve had McDonald’s and chocolate buttons from Nanna!” Charlie tried to reason with her.
Sarah looked up at him and pouted again, “please daddy.” Then she lifted up her sprained ankle to show him. “But it’ll make my poorly foot better!”
He looked over at Nick who just nodded, it wasn’t like sugar made Sarah hyper anyway so it didn’t really matter and besides today they were treating her.
“Okay sweetheart just this once, because you’re being so brave!” He replied kissing her forehead with a giggle as he made his way to the kitchen.
Charlie made Sarah hot chocolate in her favourite cup as well as some for himself and Nick before heading back into the lounge.
“Thank you, daddy!” Sarah said sweetly still not moving from Nick’s arms, her injured ankle propped up on cushions.
Even though he knew accidents happen, Charlie felt so bad that his daughter was in enough pain that all she wanted was couch cuddles.
The family stayed on the couch drinking their hot chocolates while Disney movies played on the tv until the little patient fell asleep on her daddy’s lap.
Once he noticed, Nick stood up and carefully lifted Sarah into his arms making sure her ankle stayed under the cushions. “I’ll put her in bed and I’ll be back.”
“I feel so guilty, Nick.” Charlie admitted when his partner was back beside him.
“I could from all the treats, Char.” He responded with a little laugh.
“But I was RIGHT there & I couldn’t catch her or stop it from happening. Then she said it was the worst day ever.”
Nick pulled Charlie into his arms and played with his hair, “aww love. Accidents happen, she’s a kid and kids fall. You did everything you could to make it better and I promise you that you did well. I think guilt is just a part of parenthood, but you’re an amazing daddy. She knows we love her & that’s the most important part.”
Charlie looked up at Nick and kissed him, “I love you Nicholas Nelson & you’re an amazing papa yourself.“