Page 25 of Schooling Little Sage

Everyone we passed said hi or waved to us. “I like it here, Daddy. It’s so pretty and everyone’s nice.”

“That’s the way it should be. But you’re right, there’s something magical about this place.”

Yeah, magical. That was the right word for it.

“While Daddy puts the groceries away, why don’t you hang your clothes up.”

“’Kay, Daddy.” When I came back out, Daddy had a cute turtle backpack sitting on the table. “What’s that?”

“That’s your new backpack with a surprise inside. Go ahead, open it up.”

“Turtle jammies. Thank you, Daddy.” They were so cute in their tiny shells. “They match my new backpack.”

“There’s more.”

“A shirt with butterflies and snaps at the bottom. Is this my first onesie?” I’d seen others wearing them, but I didn’t have any.

“It is. What does it say on the front?”

I held it up. “Daddy’s little butterfly. That’s so cool. How did you know my size?”

“From when you first got here and we went shopping for you. I ordered those online and they just came in. There should be one more thing in there.”

I dug around inside and my fingers landed on a pointy squishy thingy. “A binky?”

“It is. You said you wanted to try one, so there you go.”

“Smart Daddy, you ’member everything.”

“Well, not everything, but I try to when it comes to my boy.”

Pfft, the others said they had the bestest Daddy. No way. Mine was the bestest of the bestest.

Chapter Eight

Somehow, my sneaky Sage had managed to move in without my realizing it. No complaints, going to sleep and waking up with him quickly became two of my favorite things, not to mention this completely bypassed that whole awkward living together conversation. Gotta say, when my boy set his mind to something, he dove right in and went for it.

“Little boy, is everything you own in here?” I browsed through the closet, realizing he now had nearly as many clothes as I did.

“Yup.”

“How did you move in without Daddy knowing it?”

“You said it yourself, Daddy. This place is magic. Poof!” He spread his hands out. “Here I am.”

“Guess I should let the office know your old room is available, Genie.”

“Nope. I told Sadie already.”

“Oh lord, what did she say?”

Sage giggled. “That her Daddy was right again.”

I’d never hear the end of this.

He steadily played with his turtles, lining them up in front of the other animals on the table, completely unfazed by our conversation.

“You said you’re keeping me forever, Daddy. ’Member, no take-backsies.”