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“Mama, no hitting!” Addy chastises.
“I’m sorry, baby girl. Daddy was being fresh.”
“Uh oh, Daddy bad,” Sophie scolds me.
“Yes, sometimes Daddy is bad… but Mommy loves it.” I grin at her as she just shakes her head at me.
“All right, how about that ice cream!” Quinn yells, immediately changing the subject. But by the glint in her eye and the small smile on her face, I know she loved every second of it.
The insistent cheer of “Ice cream, ice cream” fills the car, and Q and I just smile at each other. Her fingers lace through mine over the center console, and I lift her hand to kiss it.
“I love you, Queenie… You make me the happiest man alive.”
“Love you, Mommyyy,” comes from the back seat, and I see Quinn’s eyes well with happy tears.
It's been an emotional day, one we’ve been looking forward to for quite some time now. It marks the beginning of the rest of our lives together as one family. Although the road to get here was paved in pain and tears, smiles and laughs, we’re here, nonetheless. With each girl in tow and Quinn by my side, we set off into the sunset, the way we were always meant to.
Epilogue
“Mommy, it’s going to be okay.” Sophie brings her sweet little hand up to my cheek, wiping away the tear from the corner of my eye.
“Yeah, Mama, you’re the one that said you will be back here to get us before we know it,” Addy my tell-it-how-it-is girl, reminds me with a big hug.
Eli reaches his arm down to help me stand from my crouched position. I take a deep breath, knowing I need to be strong for my girls.
“Both of you are absolutely right! I’m just so proud of you two, and I’ll miss you today, but yes, Daddy and I will be here waiting as soon as you get done. Okay?”
They both nod enthusiastically, and I couldn’t be happier that they are both excited for their first day of kindergarten. If either of them was scared, I would probably throw in the towel and take them home with me immediately. I may or may not have already looked up homeschool curriculums.
Eli kisses me on the top of the head and whispers, “They’re going to be okay, baby.”
They stand in front of us, hand in hand, and I muster up a reassuring smile for them. This morning, Sophie wanted French braids and Addy insisted on a ponytail. They both look so much alike but uniquely themselves at the same time. All I could think about as I got them ready were the little babies I fell completely in love with.
How does time continue to fly by faster each year?
“Let’s go, girls,” Eli says, grabbing Addy’s hand, and I move to the other side, intertwining my fingers in Sophie’s.
Their sweet teacher greets us at the door of their classroom, and I know it’s time to let them go. Let them fly… They both have the world at their fingertips, and this is only just the start.
They give us both a big hug and our traditional Eskimo kisses.
“We love you. Be good listeners and kind friends,” I remind them.
“Love you, Mommy,” Sophie says, placing her hand on my stomach. Addy moves in to kiss my round belly and whispers, “Love you too, baby brother.”
The sight has me breathing through my nose, trying my damnedest not to lose it right here in the hallway. The journey wasn’t easy, but after my twenty-week anatomy scan showing nothing but a healthy baby boy, I can finally let some of my anxiety go.
Eli tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, sensing my emotions rising. “Okay, girls, head in. Have the best first day. See you later.”
They wave their little hands at us and go right in, not a care in the world. And I hope that’s how it always is for them.
Eli’s tattooed hand links with mine. “Can I take my baby mama out for breakfast? Since I have the morning off.”
“Of course. I need to text Coach Riley and thank him for that. I couldn’t have handled today without you by my side. This little guy has my emotions all over the place.”
“You know how Coach feels about family… there was no hesitation from him.”
I glance back at the school before Eli helps me into his truck. “That school nurse position is sounding better and better by the minute.”
