CHAPTER 18
Elena
Ever since I told her she’d be coming with me to my office event, Haille had been excited all morning. Even before I finished getting ready, she was already pacing around the bedroom, asking the same thing over and over again.
I had already picked out something comfortable for her to wear—a cotton T-shirt and shorts so she could run around freely. But the moment I held them up, she shook her head hard.
“Noo,” she said firmly.
She ran to her little closet, pulled out her Frozen costume—the one Avery gave her for her second birthday—and held it up proudly. A light blue dress with tiny glittery details that always made her feel like a princess.
“This,” she said, lifting it high. “Haille wear this.”
I tried to reason with her gently. “Sweetheart, it’s going to be hot. We’ll be outside.”
She shook her head again, curls bouncing. “Haille Elsa.”
And of course, she paired the dress with her favorite pink light-up shoes—the ones that blinked every time she took a step. I gave up. As long as she was happy, that was enough for me.
I dressed simply myself. The theme for today’s company picnic was blue, so I wore a sky-blue top and brown pants. My hair was tied back in a ponytail. Nothing excessive, nothing careless.
The company picnic was held at a park not too far from the office. The moment we arrived, Haille froze in her tracks. Her eyes widened, her mouth fell open slightly, and she pointed straight ahead.
“MOMMYYYY!”
“Thaaat!”
In front of us stood a huge inflatable slide in bright colors.
“Up?” she asked, her voice nearly squealing. “Haille go now?”
She tugged at my hand, almost bouncing in place.
“Nowww!”
“Now, Mommy!”
I laughed softly, my chest warming at how happy she looked. A small pang of guilt followed because I knew she wasn’t old enough to go on it yet. But I couldn’t bring myself to say that right now. Not when her face looked like that.
“Later, okay?” I said gently. “We’ll look around first.”
She pouted for half a second, then turned back to stare at the slide with shining eyes, like it might disappear if she blinked.
“No go,” she murmured softly. Mostly to herself.
I squeezed her hand and walked into the event area. A few steps in, I saw several coworkers from the finance waving at me.
“Elena!”
I waved back and looked down at Haille. “Let’s say hi to Mommy’s friends first, okay?”
She immediately pulled my hand toward the slide again. “Slidee,” she said, her voice starting to whine. “Now.”
“Just a second,” I replied softly. “Mommy needs to put our things down first. Then we go.”
Her face scrunched up. She stopped walking, lips pushing forward. “No long, mommy…” she muttered, clearly sulking.
“I promise,” I said, crouching so we were eye level. “Just a little bit.”
