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As the girls start halfheartedly picking up toys, I begin gathering scattered crayons and coloring books. Rendal moves to help, his large hands surprisingly deft as he stacks building blocks.
"You don't have to stay and help," I say, but there's no real protest in my voice.
He grins, green skin wrinkling around his eyes. "I want to."
We work in companionable silence for a while, the only sounds are the soft thuds of toys being put away and the girls' whispered conversation. As I reach for a stuffed unicorn, my fingers brush against a framed photo on the bookshelf. It's of me and Penelope, taken not long after Jason left. The sight of it makes my chest tighten.
Before I can stop myself, the words tumble out. "Penny's father left us when she was just a baby," I say quietly, not looking up. My hands tremble slightly as I set the unicorn in its basket.
Rendal stops what he's doing and comes to stand next to me, his presence solid and reassuring. He doesn't say anything, just waits patiently for me to continue.
I take a shaky breath. "It was... hard. Terrifying, really. Being alone with a baby, not knowing how I was going to manage." I risk a glance at him, finding his blue eyes fixed on me, full of understanding.
"I can't imagine how difficult that must have been," he says softly.
His words, simple as they are, unlock something in me. "I was so angry at first. Then just... sad. For me, for Penny. She deserved better."
Rendal nods, his brow furrowed in thought. "You both did."
I swallow hard, fighting back the tears that threaten to fall. "I'm scared, Rendal. Of letting anyone else in, of Penny getting hurt again."
He's quiet for a moment, then speaks with a gentleness that belies his imposing size. "I can't promise I won't make mistakes, but I'm not going anywhere," he says softly, his sincerity evident.
His words provide a small measure of comfort, but my heart remains guarded. I want to believe him, to trust in the warmth and safety I feel when he's around. But the memory of Jason's departure is still too raw, too painful.
"Thank you," I manage to whisper, offering him a small smile.
CHAPTER 7
Rendal
Iwatch Zola and Penelope chase each other around the playground, their laughter carrying on the warm breeze. A sense of contentment washes over me as I turn to Chloe, sitting beside me on the bench.
"It's days like these that make everything worth it," I say, feeling at peace.
Chloe nods, her eyes softening as she watches the girls play. "I see this kind of joy every day at school," she says, a smile playing on her lips.
I can't help but chuckle. "Must be nice. My days are full of grumpy developers and impossible deadlines."
She laughs, the sound light and musical. "Oh come on, it can't be that bad. At least you don't have to deal with glitter explosions and crayon masterpieces on the walls."
"True," I concede with a grin. "Though I've seen some pretty questionable whiteboard drawings in my time."
Chloe raises an eyebrow. "Worse than a kindergartner's self-portrait?"
"You'd be surprised. Ever seen a flowchart drawn by a sleep-deprived coder? It's modern art at its finest."
She giggles, shaking her head. "I'll take your word for it. Still, I bet you don't have to break up fights over who gets to be the line leader."
"Nah, just arguments over who gets to name the new software release. Last time, we nearly ended up with 'Unicorn Sparkle Version 2.0.'"
Chloe bursts into laughter, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Now that I'd like to see!"
I feel a warmth spread through my chest at the sound of her laughter. It's moments like these, simple and unguarded, that make me realize how much I've come to care for her.
I lean back on the bench, watching Zola and Penelope engage in what looks like an epic game of tag. Their shrieks of laughter fill the air as they dart between playground equipment.
"Speaking of energy," I say, nodding towards the girls, "you must have a secret stash somewhere to keep up with a classroom full of kids like that."
