Caroline stood up straight and held up eight fingers. “I am eight years and three months.”
“That is right,” Simone said with a smile. “I think you should be able to handle the farther distance when you are nine.”
As Caroline skipped to the target to retrieve her dagger,Simone felt such gratitude for what she had in her life. She had everything that she could ever want. A loving husband, three beautiful children, and she still was able to work as a spy.
She never thought she could be this happy. Quite frankly, she never thought she deserved to be this happy. But Caleb had convinced her otherwise. With him by her side, she felt seen and heard and loved.
“Mother, watch me!” Caroline exclaimed before she brought the dagger up.
“Remember your footing,” Simone advised.
Caroline adjusted her feet, making them shoulder-width apart. “Is that better?”
“It is,” Simone replied.
In a smooth motion, Caroline reared her hand back and released the dagger. Only this time, it sailed past the target, missing it entirely.
A pout came to Caroline’s face. “That was an awful throw.”
“It is all right,” Simone encouraged. “We learn from the failed attempts just as much as we learn from the good ones.”
Simone’s mother’s voice came from behind them. “Now where have I heard that before?” she asked lightly.
Simone turned to face her mother. “Someone very wise told me that,” she said.
“Yes, but if I recall correctly, you didn’t believe me when you were younger,” her mother responded. “You were disappointed every time you didn’t hit the center.”
Caroline spoke up. “Did you come to watch me, Grandmother?”
“I did,” Simone’s mother replied. “But I find that I need a hug before your next throw.”
Simone watched as Caroline ran past her and into her mother’s open arms, causing her to smile at the tender scene. Her mother was a doting grandmother, just as she thought shewould be. There was so much love in their home and Simone would have it no other way.
Simone’s mother released Caroline and said, “Go collect your dagger and show me what you learned.”
Caroline bobbed her head before she ran to collect her dagger.
“Caroline reminds me so much of you at this age,” her mother remarked, her eyes remaining fixed on her granddaughter.
“She is rather opinionated and stubborn,” Simone remarked.
“As were you,” her mother said. “Would you have it any other way?”
Simone shook her head. “No, she is perfect.”
She had just uttered her words when she saw Caleb approaching and she felt the familiar thudding of her heart. She wondered when she would stop having such a reaction to seeing her husband. But with every moment she spent with him, she loved him more.
As Caleb drew near, he kissed her on the cheek and whispered next to her ear, “Kendrick needs to see us.”
“Very well.” Simone turned towards her mother. “We have an errand that we need to see to. Will you ensure the children are tended to?”
Her mother tipped her head. “Go. We will be just fine until you get back.”
“You are leaving?” Caroline asked, looking up at Caleb.
Caleb crouched down in front of his daughter. “We have to go, but we will be back before supper. I promise.”
Caroline pressed her lips together. “Will you bring me back some dry sweetmeat?”
