Page 3 of Tides and Tidings

Wren sniffled, “It’s time to go to bed?”

I bit back a smile because she wasn’t wrong. Charlie and I always tell her she needs to go to bed—it’s usually well past her bedtime, and we have, umm, adult things we need to tend to. “Well, yes, but mistakes happen, and it’ll be okay.”

“I just want you to be proud of me.” Her blue eyes fell.

I squeezed her tighter, “I am always proud of you. Want to know a secret?”

A wry smile spread across her face, “Yeah.”

“You’re my best friend. You can’t tell your dad, though.” I held my pointer finger up to my lips.

Her eyes went wide, “No way!”

I nodded dramatically, wiggling my eyebrows. “What do you think, are you ready to head into your classroom?”

“I think so. Will you walk me in?”

“Of course I will.” I exited the car and carried Wren into the school since she insisted she couldn’t walk because she was too nervous. The pout she gave me when I suggested she walk was all her dad, and they both knew it worked on me one hundred percent of the time. We approached her classroom door, and I put her down. “Head on inside. I’ll try to wave so you see me in the crowd.”

I knelt to her level before adjusting her halo. “You’re going to be incredible. When you get nervous, look at the back wall.”

Wren threw herself into my arms. “I love you, Birdie. I’ll see you after the pageant!”

“I love you too!” Wren started saying I love you to me pretty quickly, but it still squeezed my heart when she said it.

And with that, she was off. I went down the hallway and into the auditorium with a small stage. I scanned the room, looking for the backs of Charlie and Marjorie’s heads.

“Lookin’ for me?” A husky voice with a southern drawl whispered against my neck. His stubble scratched the base of my throat, and my legs became weak. For someone adamant about not wanting a relationship not long ago, I cannonballed into the deep end by dating and moving in with a man with a six-year-old. I wouldn’t trade living in Wippowa for anything. Packing up and leaving Seattle was the best decision I have ever made.

I turned to face the six-foot-three man behind me. A devilish grin spread across Charlie’s face as he wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to the first row where Marjorie and Ron were seated. “I’ll be right back. I have to get Wren’s little gift out of the car.”

“Mornin’, Bee.” Ron directed at me.

“Good morning!”

“Good mornin’, dear.” Marjorie’s soft voice filled the space between us. “Ready for an adults-only weekend?”

A small smile danced on my lips, “Very much so. Are you sure you don’t mind watching Wren?”

“An entire weekend to spoil my favorite girl? Don’t be silly. I’ve been counting down the days!” She bumped into my shoulder. “Besides, Charlie has quite the weekend in store for you.”

“He told you what he has planned?” Charlie was tight-lipped about this weekend. The only detail he gave me was that I needed a dress for Saturday night.

“Oh yeah. He ran his entire plan by me.”

I opened my mouth to see if she would spill the beans, but I was met with Wren’s frantic teacher. “You’re Wren Hannigan’s mom, right?”

“I’m her dad’s…” I thought of the best way to word my response but gave up. “Yes, I am.”

“Can you please come with me?” Mrs. Smith ushered me over to Wren’s classroom. “She was fine, but when we started to line up to go into the auditorium, she panicked, and I couldn’t get her up. She said she needed you.”

My eyes fell to the small girl cowering in the corner. “Oh, my Wrenny…” I immediately went over to her and brushed her hair out of her face. “What’s going on?”

She threw herself into my arms, “I don’t want to do this.”

“I thought you were okay once we talked in the car. Did something else happen?”

Wren nodded, and her curls bounced.