I walk up to her, grabbing the shoes from her hands and kissing her on the forehead. I love that she doesn’t recoil. Even at fourteen, she lets me smother her.
“Sweetie, I trust you with her life, but Tia Allie is picking her up today. Something about Vero and Nico playing really well together. She’s been begging to have her, and I said yes.” A partial lie. I actually had to ask Allie to watch her today, but she never says no. None of them do.
“Okay, well, if you’re sure.”
“I am. Now, can you do me one more favor and go grab her from her room?”
I don’t know how I got so lucky with them. Bella is extremely responsible for her age, and Vero, well, she does the best shecan. She’s three, with a sensory processing disorder and a speech delay. Still, she’s so good. She plays on her own and enjoys some time in her room. It makes mornings a lot easier when I have to do most of the getting ready on my own.
If only she could stop losing her shoes.
“There she is,” I say in a soft tone as I smile at my girls and put her bag over my shoulder.
A change of clothes, some snacks, and the emergency binder the girls carry everywhere they go. Every single piece of information someone could need if something were to happen. Because once, something did happen, and nobody could figure out how to get hold of me until it was too late. We dismiss those required emergency lists too quickly, never thinking we’ll need them. Until we do.
That won’t ever happen again.
Vero runs to me and takes her sandals. She slides them on her feet—backwards, but who cares. At least she’s doing it. Six months ago, she struggled. Bella looks at what her little sister is doing and smiles.
God, they’re so beautiful, it tugs at my heart.
While Bella is all Nick, tall with dark brown hair, a soft smile, and beautiful blue eyes, Vero is all me—short, chubby, unruly red curls framing her face, and determined. So determined. Her therapists say that’s the main reason she has progressed so quickly. Bella is kind, smart, stubborn, and sweet, while Vero is…well, a mess.
He would be so proud of them. I know I am.
“Ready, pumpkin?” She nods, gets up, and holds my pinkie with her soft, delicate little hands.
“Eady, Mama,” she says.Don’t pay attention to the lack of beginning sounds, Nat. At least she’s saying more than two words now. That’s progress. That’s positive. Take it.
“I’ll be back by five. Any plans?” I ask Bella, who stares at us with emotion behind her eyes. She always does. Unfortunately, she knows saying goodbye might mean forever. She knows every hello, see you later, goodbye, hug, kiss, laugh could be the last one. It’s given us an appreciation for life in a way I wouldn’t wish on anyone, let alone a little girl.
“Rot in bed, read a book, and stay out of the pool.”
“Good. We can swim when I get back.” My three rules for her staying at home by herself. No friends over unless I know. No swimming. No internet.
“I love you.” The corners of her lips tug up, brightening her face, as they always do.
“Always and forever.” I touch my nose with my index finger and then point at her, and she does the same back. Our way of saying goodbye.
I walk to the car silently, thinking about how lucky I am to be her mom. Most teens don’t even want to talk to their parents, but mine? Well, mine tells me she loves me unprompted and still enjoys saying goodbye the same way we’ve been doing since she was a toddler. Life may have hit me with some low blows, but in the kid department, I hit the jackpot.
The drive to the store isn’t long, and today, it’s also quiet. It’s 10:00 am on the dot when we arrive. I must have missed church traffic, and I’m thankful for it. It’s a pleasant Sunday in this perfect town. The few people walking around are talking and smiling. Businesses are opening, and everything is as it always is.
The comfort of having everything be the same, no matter what happens, is something I never knew I loved about growing up in this small town. It’s definitely something I don’t take for granted now.
Allie’s SUV is parked right outside, and in front of it, there’s a sports car. Very nice and flashy, definitely out of place here.It’s not unusual for visitors to stop by on the way to either Lake City or Jacksonville. All the charm and none of the chaos—that’s Baker Oaks for everyone.
“Thank you for doing this. You know I hate asking,” I tell Allie with a mouth full of curls as I hug her hello.
“Sorry, my hair is trying to choke you. It’s so humid today, it’s having a moment. And it’s my pleasure, Nat. Really. You know Jake and I don’t mind, and the girls are always welcome. You don’t have to ask. Just tell us when and where,” she replies. The best friends a girl could ask for.
“Thank you. I really do appreciate it.”
“Mmm, is Bella home alone?” she asks. “I’ll pick her up at five and take them both to dinner, in case you want to take some time for yourself.”
Why is she acting so damn weird? I follow her gaze and finally understand. Ah, it’s the guy from the other day standing by the door, looking at his phone.
“Allie.”
