Of coursethe kittens.
Now it hangs next to one of Chloe and Anna.
And another of Chloe covered in flour after she and I undertook a failed muffin experiment.
And one of Rhodes and Chloe at the rink—both wearing Eagles jerseys.
I took it fromoutsidethe rink…because my Skating Skills are still under development.
Rhodes’s braiding ones are top tier, though.
I straighten the frame gently, step back and rub my hand over my chest.
It aches.
But not because I’m sad. Rather, it’s because I’m filled to the brim with so much happiness sometimes it’s difficult to bear, to trust in, to believe.
But that’s okay, Rhodes is right there with me.
Being brave.
In his Cat Mom shirt.
“Finn?”
I glance over, see that Chloe has given up dancing long enough to bring my present over to me. She’s clutching the gaily wrapped little box in both hands?—
And looking nervous.
Unusual for my brave, opinionated girl.
“Hey, honey.” I crouch down. “What’s up?”
“I made this for you.”
My heart melts on the spot.
I take the box carefully. “Thank you, baby.”
“You have to open it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I salute then rip at the paper, pull off the lid, and…
Feel my heart threaten to overflow.
Because sitting on a layer of pink tissue paper is a homemade bracelet. The beads are mismatched (and mostly pink), threaded onto a bright pink pipe cleaner?—
And when I turn it over, I see what she’s spelled out.
MOMMY
Everything inside me goes still.
“Oh, Chloe.”
My voice breaks on her name and I look over at her.
She’s biting her lip now, watching me too closely.
