“Hey, Mark, can we talk?”
I’m covering the last piece of French toast with the flaky topping when I hear the front door open. Sadie is still upstairs on the phone. I don’t want Sophia to run up and see her yet, so I holler out to her and my parents.
“I’m in the kitchen!”
Sophia comes to a screeching halt when she sees me cooking in the kitchen. “Daddy! Where is my surprise! Is it a goat?”
That godforsaken goat. I’m about to just get her one so I don’t have to hear her talk about it anymore. Come to think of it, Sadie would probably love that too. I make a mental note to call the petting zoo sometime soon to see if they can help me out with that.
“Sorry,Rakas.No goat today.”
Sophia dramatically sighs with her disapproval. Now that I’m done prepping French toast, I set the bowl in the sink and turn back to my daughter.
“Oh, so if it’s not a goat, you’re not interested? You don’t want the other surprise that’s here for you?”
She starts vigorously shaking her head. “No, no, no. Daddy. I still want thesurprise!Please!”
My parents walk into the kitchen hand in hand, and they make their way to the stools at the island. It’s not unusual for them to hang out after dropping Sophia off, but the glint in my mother’s eye is awfully suspicious.
“We wanted to see what this surprise is all about too.”
Of course they do. I’m about to explain, but my dad catches me off guard.
“Son, did you know your car door was left open overnight? I thought someone broke in but other than the driver’s seat being drenched, it doesn’t look like anyone was poking around in there.”
Oh, fuck. I forgot. I was in such a hurry to find Sadie, I didn’t bother shutting the door.
“Uh, about that. There’s a reason I left it open. It’s going to sound pretty silly when I explain it but?—”
“Good morning,” Sadie sing-songs when she walks back into the kitchen.
Sophia turns on her heel and screams as loud as I’ve ever heard her. “Miss Sadie!”
She takes off toward Sadie as fast as her little feet will allow. Sadie crouches down and catches Sophia when she launches herself into Sadie’s arms.
“Hey, Sunshine. I’m so happy to see you.”
I hear somebody sniffle, and when I look at my parents, I see my mom wiping a tear from her eye. My dad pulls her into his side, and when my mom finally looks from the girls to me, she waves me off. “Ignore me. I’m just so happy to see Sadie is still here.”
Sadie walks over to me, Sophia clinging onto her for dear life. She smiles at my parents and then looks down at Sophia.
“I was thinking I’d stay in Green Bay. If that’s okay with you, of course?” She’s still looking at Sophia, waiting for her to respond. Hell, we all are. Not that it’s up to a five-year-old, but having her seal of approval would be the cherry on top.
Sophia finally picks her head up off Sadie’s shoulder. Shelooks between Sadie and me a few times before turning to Sadie with a very serious look on her face.
“Are you going to leave again?”
Sadie doesn’t hesitate this time. “No, Sophia. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
Sophia buries her face back in Sadie’s shoulder, her little arms squeezing as tight as can be around her neck. “I want you to stay forever.”
I reach down and run my fingers through Sophia’s blonde hair.
“I think I’d like that too, baby girl.”
The five of us move to the dining room table while we wait for the French toast to be done. Sophia is a chatterbox, clearly excited that Sadie is here and she’s here to stay.
“And then Pappa put on the crown! He was the funniest princess in the whole world.”
