Presley nods once.
The realization hurts worse than the original lie because it wasn’t for protection.
It was control. Selfishness.
Before I can fully spiral, I hear a knock on my door, and then it opens.
“Mommy!” Sera runs into my office, Miss Sandy behind her.
“She wanted to come see you. I hope this isn’t a bad time.”
I stand and pick Sera up and kiss her. “It’s never a bad time for my baby.”
“Just call me when you want me to come get her.” She backs out of the office.
“Thank you, Miss Sandy.”
I sit back down and turn Sera on my lap to face my phone.
“Is that my favorite princess?” Presley asks.
Sera waves at my sister. Then turns to me and puts her tiny hand on my face.
I hold her a little tighter than usual.
“You okay?” she asks in that small, serious voice toddlers use when they sense something’s wrong.
“I’m okay,” I say softly.
She looks at my sister.
“Auntie Pwes sad?”
Presley smiles. “Not at all.”
Sera tilts her head. Then says something that makes me suck in a breath.
“I miss Daddy.”
The words are simple. Innocent. Real.
I swallow down the lump in my throat. “You do?”
She nods. “He read story and make funny voice. He hug me big.”
Tears burn in my eyes.
“Do you love your daddy?” Presley asks gently.
She nods without hesitation.
“He come home,” she says confidently.
That’s all it takes. I feel something settle inside me.
Because children don’t calculate. They don’t strategize. They just feel. And Sera feels loved and secure with Liam.
“There you go, Alie,” Presley whispers.
