“Higher! Higher!”
“Any higher and you’re achieving orbit.”
“What’s orbit?”
“Space. You’ll fly into space.”
“Cool!”
I push her again, watching her ponytail stream behind her. The late afternoon light is golden, and for a moment I let myself pretend this is my life. That I pick her up every day, that I know her favorite flavor and all her stuffed animals’ names, that I get to watch her grow up.
Dangerous fantasy. I know that.
I let myself have it anyway.
My phone buzzes.
Zayden:Just landed. How’s she doing?
Me:Currently attempting to defy gravity on the swings. I’m supervising.
Zayden:That tracks.
Zayden:I can be there in 45. You’re okay to stay?
Me:Of course.
Zayden:Thank you, Tori.
Three dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
Zayden:For everything.
I pocket my phone and go back to pushing Maisie, trying not to think about how this feels more like home than anywhere I’ve been in years.
• • •
We’re on the couch watchingMoanawhen Zayden walks in.
Maisie’s tucked against my side, singing along under her breath to “How Far I’ll Go” while I pretend not to notice. There are goldfish crumbs on my shirt, her hair is escaping its ponytail, and she’s got the blanket pulled up to her chin even though the living room is perfectly warm.
“This is the best part,” she whispers loudly, like it’s a secret. “Watch, watch, watch—”
Zayden stops in the doorway. Just... looks at us.
His face does something complicated. Soft and hungry and sad all at once, like he’s seeing something he wants but doesn’t think he’s allowed to have.
“Daddy!” Maisie launches off the couch and barrels into him. He catches her easily, scooping her up like she weighs nothing.
“Hey, little shadow.” He presses a kiss to her temple. “Good day?”
“The best.” She’s already talking a mile a minute. “Tori took me for ice cream and the park, and we watchedMoana, and she knows all the words to the songs, and she can push really high on the swings, like really,reallyhigh—”
His eyes cut to me over her head, amused. “She knows all the words?”
“I have a lot of hidden talents.”
“Apparently.” He’s smiling—really smiling—and it transforms his whole face. “Thank you. Seriously.”
