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“Morning, doll.”
“Morning.”
“Mommy, we made pancakes!” Henry says excitedly.
“I see that,” she says, giving him a hug.
I flip the last pancake onto the platter and carry it toward the table. I give Addy a quick kiss on my way by, unable to resist. Addy and I move around the kitchen getting plates and drinks like we’ve done it a million times before.
We sit at the table like a little family of three, and I can’t help but hope that’s exactly what we will be one day.
EPILOGUE
Axel—One year later
It’shard to believe it’s been a year since Addy and I started seeing each other. It’s not been all sunshine and roses, especially that first meeting with Addy’s mother. Let’s just say even though Addy and her made up, she was definitely not Team Axel at first. It took some work to win her over, but now she’s on board with whatever will make Addy and Henry happy. And since that is my number one goal in life, she’s happy to have me around. Which is a good thing because if I have my way, I’ll be with Addy for the rest of my life.
We discussed taking things slow for Henry’s sake, but when it became clear that he was happy to have me around as much as possible, we decided to move in together. I sold my house and moved into their apartment so that we didn’t put his life into upheaval again so soon after they moved to Monett. It’s a bit of a tight fit with the three of us, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
“Axel,” Addy calls from Henry’s bedroom. “I can’t find his other shoe.”
I head into the bedroom to help her search for the missing shoe. I find her halfway under Henry’s bed, pulling out toys and dirty clothes and whatever else the little guy has shoved under there.
Henry is sitting on the bed with one shoe on and a huge smirk on his face. “Hey, little man. Do you know where your other shoe is?”
He covers his mouth and giggles. Addy pops up off the floor and levels that mom stare at him. “Where is the other shoe, Mister?”
“It’s lost,” he says with another giggle.
“Well, it needs to be found! You’re going to be late for your first day of school.”
Henry is starting preschool today. It’s taking a lot of brave faces on Addy’s part to let him go. She’s cried at least a dozen times over him going. She’s enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom so much and feels like she’s losing a piece of that. However, because she’s an amazing mom, she’s doing what’s best for him and enrolled him in a private preschool. Even though it’s only a half-day, she’s still a mess on the inside.
“Can you tell mommy where your shoe is?” I ask him.
He hops off the bed and goes to his dresser. He opens up the bottom drawer and pulls the missing shoe out. “Tada! Here it is!”
“Why does he always listen to you the first time?” she says, giving me an exasperated look.
I shrug because I have no idea, but the little dude likes doing things for me. He’s always my little helper no matter what task I’m doing, big or small. It’s endearing.
“Put it on. We need to leave in the next five minutes, or you’ll be late.”
He plops down on the floor and puts the shoe on his foot. Addy lets out a sigh of relief. Once the shoe is on, it’s a flurry of activity to gather his things and get him out the door. We get to the school minutes before his class starts.
The teacher greets Henry with a broad smile, shows him where he can put his backpack, and then ushers him to where the other kids are all playing. Henry looks back at us, looking wary. Addy smiles wide at him and gives him a thumbs up. He returns the thumbs up and sits beside a little girl playing with blocks. And just like that, he’s made a new friend.
I guide a reluctant Addy out of the classroom. “Come on, doll. He’s going to be just fine.”
“I know, I know. It’s just so hard to let him go.”
“It’s only a few hours, and then you’ll be able to smother him with your love all over again.”
She snorts a laugh at that. “I’m not that bad.”
“You’re the perfect balance of raising an independent kid and smothering him with affection.”
I open the truck door for her, and she climbs in. I lean in, and she offers her lips for a kiss. Our lips meet briefly, then I close the door and circle around the truck to get in the driver’s side. I take up her hand and hold it all the way home. She’s quiet on the way home, probably thinking about if Henry is doing okay being away from her or not.
