“Penguin cake? Any clue what that means?”
Penelope groaned with a loving smile for her rambunctious daughter. “Oh, yeah. One of her friends at daycare read this book about boy penguins who get married. She said there’s cake and she wants the book. Do you have anything like that?”
My smile grew, and I nodded. “I love how inclusive this daycare is, first of all. Second, I think I know what she’s talking about.”
I rounded the counter and walked them over to the children’ssection. We kept a wide range of books in the store, not just LGBTQIA-plus authors, and that extended to our children’s section, but if there was a queer children’s book, which there weren’t many of, we stocked them.
I pulled the book from the shelf and presented it to a wide-eyed Nora. “Is this the happily married penguins book you’re looking for?”
“Penguin cake!” She snatched the book out of my hand and plopped down on the bean bag chair in the corner.
I laughed and turned back to Penelope. “Thank you. She’s been talking about this book for the better part of a week. I thought she would’ve forgotten it eventually, but she’s too smart for me.”
“She’s just like her mother. How are you, really?”
She looked over at Nora, who was reading to herself, and her expression was filled with love and adoration. “I’m not as tired as I was during her first year of life. Everyday I thank the universe for her. Greg and I are just so obsessed with her, and our marriage has only gotten stronger because of her. My heart is so full.”
Soft tears formed in her eyes, and I gently rubbed her arm. “She’s gorgeous and such a good kid. You guys are doing an amazing job with her. I wish I had books like those when I was growing up. I’m not sure my parents would’ve read them to me, though, but I still wish they existed.” I shrugged.
“Your dad was supportive when you came out, though, right? What about your mom?” Penelope asked.
“Yeah, he was amazing. He said he just wanted me to be happy, however that looked for me. My mom passed before I came out. I’d like to think she would’ve been supportive, too, but I honestly don’t have many memories of her like that to go on.”
It was the truth. It had been me and my dad since I could remember. I was barely a teen when we lost her.
“I’d like to think she’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
“Momma, Momma, come look at the cake!” Nora yelled out before I could respond. I hoped she was proud.
“Momma duties call. Okay if we sit for a little while?”
I nodded. “Of course, Pen. Stay as long as you want. I’m about to head out, but Alexis or Farrah can check you out. It was so good seeing you girls.”
She wrapped me in a warm hug and squeezed. “It was great to see you, Kai. Tell Dre we stopped by and said hello. I feel like I keep missing her.”
I laughed. “Yeah, she’s usually here in the middle of the day. She likes her mornings and nights with Blair when she can have them.”
We said our goodbyes, and I walked over to the counter. “Penelope might purchase that penguin book. If she gets it, and anything else, tell her it’s already paid for and put the receipt on my desk. I’ll take care of it tomorrow. You girls have a good night.”
“You, too, Kai. Tell Daisy we said hello,” Farrah said with a wink. I rolled my eyes, eager to get home and say hello to her myself.
I jumped when my phone went off with a text notification. On my way home, I’d decided to take a little detour and ended up parked in front of my dad’s old house. When I checked the time, I shook my head. I’d been sitting there staring at it for twenty minutes?
I wiped away the tears and pulled out my phone:
My sunflower: Baby, where are you? Are you okay? Are you still working?
My sunflower: I’m not trying to be a clingy girlfriend, but I miss you, and you were supposed to be off work almost an hour ago. I’m just worried.
I smiled and sent a reply:
Me: Hey, sunny. Yeah, I’m okay. I’m sorry. After work, I decided to drive by the old house. Time slipped away from me. I’m on my way now. Miss you!
My sunflower: Oh, honey. No rush. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.
My sunflower: Are you okay?
Me: Yes, I was just thinking. Pen came into the store with Nora. I’ll tell you about it when I get home. I’m okay, I promise.
