She rose a cup of tea to her lips, cringing when she realized that Helen had forgotten to add any sugar, and she had also used much more tea than she needed to; as a result the beverage was particularly bitter, pitch black from all the tea used, but oddly fitting for the current situation. It was undoubtedly better than the last tea the old woman prepared.

Monet had called Law two times already that day, the first one she spoke to Penguin who said that Law was busy in the city and he’d be coming back to the sub soon, the second one to Jean Bart that told her Law wasn’t back yet. That was the last time she was willing to call him that day. If it had been just a normal call Monet would have waited for Law to come back, but she had promised Lynette that she would get her dad to come soon. 

                Now that she thought about it Monet regretted making that promise, because she didn’t thought Law could make it on time. Again.

Finally he answered the Den Den Mushi, asking if something had happened. 

— ❝ No, it’s all good. Lynette just wants to know if you will be here for Christmas–❞ 

                        ‘I’m trying to get there’ was hardly an answer for her.

— ❝ I’m asking because Lynette is very excited with the idea of you being here in Christmas and she’ll be very disappointed if you miss it.❞ 

'Is not like I’m trying to miss it on purpose’ he said, and this time and Monet sighed.— ❝ Listen, if you think you are not going to be here just tell her. It’s better than she knows now that you ain’t coming that she waits for you again to just get her hopes crushed in the end–❞ 

        And there it started. That of him trying to justify his absence with 'I’m a pirate and the sea is unpredictable’. That irked her since the very first time he said it. Why couldn’t he understand that that wasn’t any excuse nor explanation for Lynette? She was a toddler, she just knew that while her classmates got to spend all the holidays and days with their dads she didn’t. Lynette didn’t understand why Law’s job made him be so far away from home.

On the other side of the room Helen, that was knitting and watching over Lynette tutted in disapproval. Monet had never met anyone that disliked Law as much as Helen did.

— ❝ I’m saying it because last time you said you were coming she spent the whole afternoon waiting for you at the door and you didn’t come, and if that happens again Trafalgar Law I swear I’m turning you into an iclicle.❞ 

        Lynette called her, waving a piece of paper in the air. A drawing with everything in white and a stain that looked like hair in the middle. 'Mummy in the snow’ she said.

               Monet smiled, but raised her hand to halt her.

— ❝ Not now, darling, Mom is threatening dad.❞ 

       Her attention returned to the man on the other side of the line.
        It was pointless to argue because that wouldn’t change anything.  If his life as a pirate was much more important than his daughter Monet couldn’t do anything about it.

                 — ❝ Call me whenever you know for sure if you are coming or not.❞ 

                                                  And with that she finished the call.