Time Traveler: E197. The Perfect Father

Meanwhile, in the small park adjacent to City Hall...

They sat down on one of the benches, Juliette put Rowan on her lap, he began asking questions on everything around them. Juliette and Robin could tell how unusually observant he was for his little over two years. Even the smallest detail of anything piqued his interest.

He was particularly attentive as Robin told him stories about the Future and taught him new words, which he learned with astonishing speed. Meanwhile, Juliette was beginning to get nervous because, by this hour, there were many more people on the streets, someone might see them together with the child, or worse, approach and ask them questions about him.

"I think we should go," she suggested.

"No, I want to play," Rowan chirped; Rob stepped in right away.

"Rowie, it's kind of late and mom said that…"

"Please, please," Rowan begged, in a little voice that, to Juliette as always, was impossible to resist.

"O-okay, we stay, but only five minutes," she conceded.

"Did you hear that, Row? Five minutes, then we're going home."

"Yes, Daddy."

"It's important to always obey Mommy, so we'll do what she asked, okay?"

"Okay."

 

Robin kissed Rowan on the forehead, Juliette smiled and shook her head. She couldn't stop looking at them, she was both touched and amazed at how brilliant Robin was in his role as a father, and how obedient Rowan was to him, as if he had known him all his life.

To please Rowan, they sat with him on the grass so he could play, and they could take care of him while they all enjoyed the morning sun. Rowan was pleased and more or less still for a while, but being so restless and curious, he got bored after a few minutes, and now he wanted to get up and run around.

"Okay, but don't go too far away, stay where mommy and I can see you," Robin said, as the three of them stood up.

"Yes, Daddy," Rowan replied without hesitation. Juliette heaved a sigh. When in his two and a half little years of life had Rowan ever obeyed her like that? It was almost always long battles to get him to eat or to put him to bed. How did Robin do it? What was his 'trick' to get him to do what he said without protest? How did he manage to be such a perfect father?