“Nora!” Charlotte called from the couch in the center of the room where she’d planted herself. “You sit here!” She patted the cushion beside her enthusiastically.
Nora glanced back at me with an apologetic smile before making her way over to sit beside Charlotte.
Once the movie was ready to go, I stepped down to the row the girls were sitting on, hesitating for a moment as I decided which seat to take.
The couch was big enough for four people, so there was still space for me to squeeze in beside Nora.
It had been an interesting twenty-four hours with lots of emotional ups and downs. And while I was sure to have a million setbacks in moving through my grief and trying to find the second great love of my life… sitting next to Nora suddenly sounded like the nicest spot in the room.
But before I could sit down, Charlotte looked over at meand patted the cushion on the other side of her. “Daddy, you sit here!”
Because, of course, she wanted to be in the middle.
And since I had a weakness for that little girl, I chuckled and dropped onto the cushion beside her.
The movie started, and before long Charlotte was happily munching popcorn and singing along with the opening song.
As we watched Rapunzel and Flynn Rider go on their quest to see the floating lanterns, I found myself glancing over at Nora every few minutes—just to catch her reaction to the various moments. And while Charlotte and I had always enjoyed our daddy-daughter movie nights, having Nora there somehow made the whole evening even better.
Like something small but important that had been missing had quietly slipped back into place.
Eventually, the movie ended, and we headed upstairs.
And just like I’d warned Nora earlier, when I told Charlotte it was time to brush her teeth and head to bed, my little girl turned to Nora with the most hopeful of looks in her green eyes as she asked, “Will youweadme my book?”
“Oh honey,” I said, stepping in automatically. “I’m sure Nora has things she wants to do tonight. How about I read to you?”
“I actually don’t mind,” Nora said, stepping closer. “Unless you prefer to read to her, of course. I don’t want to intrude or anything.”
“Are you sure?” I looked down at her, not wanting her to be guilted into something she didn’t actually want to do when she was technically off the clock.
“I’d love to,” she said. Then looking down at Charlotte, she added, “We still need to read that new bunny book, don’t we?”
“Uh huh,” Charlotte said, nodding enthusiastically.
“Ok, well, if you really don’t mind, then that would be great.”
So after helping Charlotte brush her teeth, I got her settled into bed while Nora pulled the picture book from the little bookshelf in the corner.
“Should I sit next to you while I read this?” Nora asked Charlotte when she stepped up beside the bed.
“Uh huh,” Charlotte said, scooting over just enough to make room for Nora.
Taking that as my cue, I slipped out of the room to give them a little space, stopping just outside the doorway and leaning against the frame so I could still watch.
“There once was a little brown bunny who lived in a burrow with her papa…” Nora read from the first page.
As the story continued, Charlotte settled comfortably against her. And there was just something about the way Nora’s voice softened as she turned each page that made my chest feel warm.
Because she looked like she genuinely loved being there.
When the story ended, Nora closed the book and smiled at Charlotte.
“Goodnight, Charlotte,” Nora said softly. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night night,” Charlotte said sleepily.
Nora stood and stepped past me through the doorway. As she did, her arm brushed lightly against mine. The contact lasted only a second, but it was long enough for a quick spark of warmth to shoot up my arm.