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“Mommy said to pack only the stuffies I can’t leave behind and to set the rest up on my bed, but when I was trying to choose who to leave, I couldn’t decide. I can’t just leave some of them behind.”
A reasonable dilemma to have.
I have to work to keep my laughter back; I don’t want her to think that I’m making fun of her.
“I don’t think all of them are going to fit in your bag, and I think Mommy wanted you to keep some here so you don’t have to bring them back and forth every time you come here.”
Her little shoulders drop and her lip pouts out some.
“Aww, come here.”
I open my arms for her, and she climbs into my lap, laying her head on my shoulder.
“How about this, whatever ones you were thinking of leaving here, I’ll take back to my apartment so they can stay on the couch in my office while you are back in Willow Creek?”
She springs up and jumps off my lap, bouncing up and down on her toes.
“Really?!”
I love the fact that I can make her so happy with such a little thing.
“Really, and whenever you are missing them, you can let me know and I will let you video call them whenever I’m home.”
She jumps up and down, pumping her arms in the air.
“Yay! Thank you, Daddy!”
Every time she calls me Daddy, my heart expands three sizes bigger, and I have to swallow back the tears that rise in my throat. Just a few weeks ago, I never thought I would have this; I never thought I would have Tanya back, and now here stands our little girl.
Kayla appears in the doorway and smiles at Sophia as she digs out stuffed animals from her bag.
“Your momma wants to know if you’re ready to go, missy. Did you choose which stuffies are staying here?”
I find it odd that Tanya sent Kayla in here to get her, but I don’t say anything about it in front of Soph.
“Yep! Daddy is going to keep them for me, and he said I can video call them whenever I want.”
Kayla smiles at her but avoids eye contact with me.
Alright, now I know something is wrong.
I stand from the bed and say to Soph, “Aunt Kayla can help you gather them for me; I’m going to talk to Mommy really quick.”
Before Kayla can say anything, I make it out the door and down the hall. Tanya is in the kitchen, cleaning out the fridge. I’m assuming from things that will go bad in the next week.
Is she doing this to avoid me?
“Hey, you. I wanted to say goodbye to you too.”
She moves around the island to grab the trash can as I make my way toward her.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yep, I’m just trying to get everything done. We need to make it back before it gets too late so Soph can go to bed at a decent hour for school tomorrow.”
It’s a valid reason, but something tells me it’s not entirely the truth.
“Right, of course.”
