I might get to be Charlotte’s mommy someday, too.
EPILOGUE
NORA
Two Years Later
Charlotte’s unicornbackpack looked comically big on her shoulders as we walked up to the front doors of her new elementary school.
It was her first day of kindergarten, and even though we’d been preparing for this day for a long time, the nerves were definitely setting in.
“Okay,” Theo said, crouching so he was eye-level with her. “What’s our plan if you feel nervous?”
Charlotte blinked up at him, a serious expression on her face. “I tell my teacher.”
“That’s right.” He brushed a dark ringlet away from her cheek. “And what if you miss us?”
She looked at me, then at him. “I be brave.”
My throat tightened a little, because of course she would say that. Like bravery was something you could just decide to be.
Theo’s gaze flicked up to mine for half a second, like he wasfeeling it, too. Then he smiled at Charlotte and kissed her forehead.
“And what if another kid tries to take your crayons?” he asked, voice turning solemn.
Charlotte gasped. “No.”
I snorted, and Theo’s mouth tipped up. Yeah… sharing was sometimes still hard for our little girl.
But then, her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was considering something. And after seeming to have a slight change of heart, she lifted a finger and said, “Unless they forgot theirs.”
Theo’s brows rose. “Oh?”
“And,” she went on, “if they are nice.”
This girl really was the best.
“That’s very fair.” Theo let out a quiet laugh and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “If they’re nice, you can share. If they’re not…”
Charlotte didn’t hesitate. “No sharing.”
Which, yeah, I couldn’t really disagree with that.
“You have a good day today.” I knelt down, smoothing my hand over the brown curls that she’d asked me to put a big bow in. “We’ll pick you up after school, okay?”
“Okay,” she said, giving me a big hug. “I’ll see you after school, Mom.”
And even though she’d been calling meMomsince Theo and I got married a year ago, hearing it never got old—I just felt so lucky to call this sweet little girl mine.
When we walked into her classroom, the room was already buzzing with kids and parents and teachers with bright lanyards and patient smiles. After putting her backpack on its hook, Charlotte gave Theo and me each one more hug.
And then after a couple of quick photos, she found her spot on the rug and got ready to learn.
Just like that.
Theo’s arm went around my waist as we walked through the door that went outside.
“Okay, I know I said I wasn’t going to cry…” I said, even though my voice came out a little wobbly. “But these dang pregnancy hormones are really getting to my eyes today.”