Cross Thoroughbred Racing Facility

[Story]

Adam lifted his head off the table. "Yeah, Charles. We'll go see PeeWee. Eat a little more of your dinner first, okay?" He tried to coax his daughter, ignoring the fact that he was being perhaps a touch hypocritical by refusing to eat his own meal. He'd throw his plate into the refrigerator and save it for later. Absently, he spoke aloud, halfway to Sadie (if she even cared to listen) and mostly to himself. "Gotta talk to Fay about gelding PV..." He wasn't sure if that was the best option but he sure wasn't planning to breed the colt. Aiden had said he didn't see his mares breeding with the bay splash colt. He was a mediocre racehorse at best.

[Horse]

Charlie frowned but obeyed, and nibbled on the wrap while she looked towards her mother, eyes wide. Sadie was half-heartedly listening, before she turned when Adam spoke to her, eyebrows raised. "Really? Why?" She asked curiously, head tilted slightly. She liked the splash colt, he was quite the character. He reminded her of Nessie. Sadie studied him for a moment before glancing back towards Charlie, a light smiling playing on her lips as she made a funny face at the toddler.

[Story]

Adam raised an eyebrow when Sadie sounded almost surprised. She couldn't figure that one out herself? "He's not going to be that high in demand of a stallion. If it's color they want to breed for, they can just breed to Tremolo. He has that overo gene. Sure, we'd lose the splash gene from him, but it's not like PV is that talented of a racer. He'd likely be calmer if gelded, might be more focused. Hell, it might make him race better. Just trying to think of what's best for him. He might be happier if he's a bit more mellow."

[Horse]

Sadie tipped her head slightly, chewing on her bottom lip. "Oh. That makes sense." Sadie mumbled before turning back to the fridge, frowning. She turned back after a moment, eyebrows raised. "Don't you have races in California or something this next week?" She questioned, studying him carefully. She wanted to know so she could work out her schedule for the next day or so.

[Story]

"Yeah. I leave in two days. I'll be there for two days, and then I fly to Saratoga for two days again, before I'm back." Adam responded, avoiding looking at Sadie. He continued to sit at the table, waiting for his daughter to eat a little more of her wrap. Because it was still early enough, he figured he could always have her eat more of the wrap later if she wasn't hungry anymore. And, she could always finish that wrap for lunch the following day, anyway.

[Horse]

Sadie nodded slowly, rocking back on her heels. That would work. She had some downtime for the next week or so, with only a few races at Cedar Creed Dcowns. "Okay..." She trailed off for a moment, before continuing on. "I have a down week so I'll be able to watch Charlie." She added quietly before she again, turned back to the fridge, her stomach growling. She pulled a few things back, looking for something that looked appetizing. She settled on a sandwich before she gave her daughter a peck on the forehead and left without another word. Though, she did pause at the door, a longing look on her face before she turned back to the living are to eat.

[Sorry, a friend came over]

[Story]

Adam ignored the longing look that Sadie cast back toward them, waiting for his daughter for a few more minutes. He kept his gaze on the table, running his scarred fingers over the surface, tracing the grain of the wood. He let out a quiet sigh before pushing himself to his feet. He grabbed his plate and stuck it in the fridge before turning to look at his daughter. "Are you done, Charles?" He asked in a quiet voice.

[Horse]

Charlie bounces up and down in her high chair, eyes bright, and her hair coming out of her pigtails. "Yes! Can I give him a carrot?" She crooned, holding out her arms to be picked up by her dad. It was obvious the little girl had Adam wrapped around her finger. Sadie sat on one of the far couches, out of the way. She stares blankly at her food, an almost grimace on her face before she just decided to head upstairs to sleep.

[Story]

Adam scooped Charlie up into his arms, freezing for in instant as his body protested, before he adjusted her onto his bony hip. He balanced her carefully as he rummaged aroundin the fridge for a carrot, teasing a few baby carrots out of a bag. He cursed when the bag slipped from his grip and spilled all over the floor. He set Charlie back down before sinking to the floor to begin scooping up the rest of the pieces he'd scattered.

[Horse]

Charlie looked startled and emitted a soft squeal, eyes wide before she calmed down to all appearances and bent down and picked up a few carrots with her pudgy hands, a big grin on her face. "Here you go Daddy." She was such a go-lucky little girl, and she always seemed to have a big smile on her face. She toddled over to him and wrapped her arms around his legs, squeezing. "Daddy, I love you." She said, her eyes closing.

[Story]

Adam scooped the carrots out of Charlie's hand. "I guess we'll see if Aiden minds if we pass out a few carrots to the broodmares, too." He said as he surveyed the carrots. They weren't any good for people now that they'd rolled around on the floor, but the horses wouldn't mind them. When Charlie wrapped her arms around his legs, his expression softened a touch and he set the bag down on the counter so he could scoop her back up. "I love you too, Charles. You'll always be my little girl." He murmured, kissing her forehead before grabbing the bag again. "Let's go see the horsies."

[Horse]

Charlie gave him a big kiss on the cheek before she wriggled a little, excited. Her cheeks were rosy with happiness and she gave off the occasional giggle. "Daddy. Can momma come?" Charlie suddenly asked. The little girl wasn't stupid. She knew something was way off with her parents, but she was just too young ot understand. She tilted her head, a questioning look marking her face.

[Story]

Adam was silent for a moment before he set Charlie back down. "Go ask her." He finally gave in. He pushed his own thoughts away. He had to remain civil and normal for Charlie's sake. It wouldn't be fair to her to see her mom and dad so awkward and almost resentful around one another. He crinkled the bag in his hands nervously, feeling his stomach churn with unease. He didn't like this situation but he had to pretend it was all fine for his daughter.

[Horse]

Charlie bounced up and down before bolting up the stairs to her mother's room. She slipped inside and crawled up onto the bed where Sadie had crashed. She practically sat on her mother, poking her in the face. "Mama! Mama!" Sadie eventually woke up, a little disoriented, she had passed out as soon as her head had hit the pillow. "What?" She asked. "Can you come with me and daddy to feed Pewee?" The toddler questioned. Sadie groaned a little, before picking Charlie up and setting her down on the floor. She was about to say no, but then she saw Charlie's expression and she reluctantly relented. Well, this was going to be awkward.

Charlie was practically beaming as Sadie scooped her up. She was half-tempted to say no on the way down. She paused, still out of site of Adam, and paused to get her emotions out under control. She was thinking the same lines as Adam; to just do this for her daughter's sake. When the mother and daughter came into view, it was obvious that Charlie was rather proud of herself, and rather happy that she had both parents to take her somewhere.

[Story]

Adam led the way outside, remaining silent. He gripped his bag of carrots, holding the door long enough for Sadie and Charlie to make it outside before he strode off toward the stables, walking ahead of Sadie, rather than beside as he had once done. He tried to ignore the knot forming in his stomach and tension was visible in the hard lines of his body as he stopped outside PV's stall. The bay splash colt immediately poked his head over Adam's shoulder. He leaned back against the colt's neck, looping an arm over his neck. "Hey, boy. Heyyy..." He murmured, rubbing the rich bay coat.