Page 135 of I Loved You First

“Only some of the kids will go into Mrs. Shultz’s classroom with you,” Fiona assured him, looking pretty in slim-fit jeans and a pale-pink lace-panel tank top.

Luckily, her eyes were bright, and her cheeks had plenty of color. They had been blessed with another nausea-free morning for Brady’s big day.

“Mrs. Shultz will come out, and you’ll get in her line,” Cam repeated for the umpteenth time. Because they’d rehearsed the morning during breakfast, after they took pictures, and again on the ride to school. “Then she’ll bring you into your classroom.”

“And you can’t come with me?” Brady asked, holding their hands tighter.

Cam shook his head, hating that they had to leave Brady at the drop-off spot. But according to the email the teacher had sent last night, it was better to let the kids settle into their new routines with their peers instead of with their parents. “We’ll give you hugs and wave to you right here.”

“But I want you to come inside.”

Fiona met Cam’s gaze before she crouched in front of Brady. “Are you feeling nervous like the llama?”

Brady nodded as he played with Fiona’s hair.

“Do you remember how much fun the llama had?”

Brady nodded again.

“I know for sure you’re going to have such a great day. And this afternoon, you’ll get to tell us all about it when we pick you up.”

Cam crouched next to them. “And if I remember correctly, you mentioned something about wanting to celebrate your first day with a trip to the Hot Dog House.”

Brady smiled. “I’m going to have two hot dogs.”

Cam puffed up his cheeks as he crossed his eyes. “That’s a lot of hot dogs.”

Fiona laughed as Brady grinned. “That’s ’cause I’m a big kid now.”

“You’re too big,” Cam said, gently poking him in the belly.

“I imagine Grammy and Grampy will want to hear about your day, too,” Fiona reminded Brady. “You’ll have to tell them about your new cubby and who you sit next to at your table and how you got to eat in the cafeteria.”

Brady nodded with more enthusiasm. “They’ll like to hear about it.”

“Definitely,” Cam said as he spotted the teachers coming out the front door. “It looks like it’s showtime.”

Brady looked toward the group of teachers. “You’re going to leave now?”

Cam nodded, not liking the idea any more than Brady appeared to. “For a little while. After hugs and waves.”

Fiona kissed his cheek. “We’ll be waiting right here when Mrs. Shultz brings you out this afternoon. Not too long after lunch and recess.”

Brady pulled Fiona into a hard hug.

She hugged him back. “You’re going to do great, brave boy.”

Cam moved in for a hug, holding on to his little boy. “You’re going to crush today.”

“Like expert level?”

Cam nodded before he kissed Brady. “Like super expert level.”

“Wow!”

“Let’s get you into your line. And look. There’s Owen and Davis.”

Brady gasped, running to get in line with his best friends.