Page 1 of Tides and Tidings

Charlie

“Wren, hurry up!” I yelled from the bottom of the stairs.

“We’ll be down in a minute,” Blythe called back. Whether she would admit it or not, having lived in Georgia for a little over a year, she has picked up a semblance of a Southern accent, and I adore it.

I could hear their giggles coming from the bathroom. Ever since Blythe moved in six months ago, I’ve been replaced in Wren’s morning routine. It’s been the coolest thing seeing my girlfriend and daughter become a dynamic duo. When Blythe and I started dating, she and Wren were already best buds, but once Blythe moved in, they became inseparable.

I made my way back to the stove, where the bacon sizzled. The smoky aroma filled the house, and my stomach growled. No sooner had I pulled the last piece out of the pan than I was met with the most perfect sight—Blythe leaning on the doorframe.

“Are you ready to see the Christmas pageant princess?” She asked, arms folded across her chest.

I wiped my greasy hands on my apron and walked over to her. Today was Wren’s kindergarten Christmas pageant, and both she and Blythe have somehow kept her role a secret. How? I couldn’t tell you. Between the two of them, nothing was a secret. For Wren’s birthday earlier this year, Blythe and I picked out the coolest outdoor swing set. We barely made it in the door before Blythe spilled the beans. “I’m just surprised you both could keep a secret.”

“It’s a secret from you, so it was easy to keep. I can’t keep anything from Wrenny.” Blythe joked, but I knew she was serious. They’ll be ganging up on me in a few short years more than they already do. “Wren, your dad is ready for your costume reveal!” She called.

The six-year-old came barreling down the stairs but paused just before she was in my line of sight. “Daddy, you have to close your eyes!”

I stood there, not closing my eyes quickly enough. Blythe gave my shoulder a small bump, “The kid said to close your eyes. You know how demanding she is.”

I dramatically put my hands over my eyes. “Better?”

Blythe placed a small kiss on my lips, “Much.”

“Are his eyes covered, Birdie?” Wren called from behind the wall.

“They are.” Blythe and I said in unison. That’s something fun we’ve started—saying the same things simultaneously. Either we have a telepathic connection, or we’ve just lived together for a while.

“Drumroll, please!” The small voice behind the wall insisted.

Blythe obliged and lightly tapped the wall. “Introducing…the Angel in the Christmas pageant!”

I uncovered my eyes and my heart melted. My daughter was standing in front of me—and even though she’s only six, I couldn’t help but realize how big she had gotten. She was wearing a white poofy dress and angel wings. Her blonde hair was curled with a little halo on the top of her head. I knelt to her level and opened my arms for a hug. “You look beautiful, Little Bird. You’re the angel? That’s a pretty big responsibility.”

“I know! Isn’t it sooo cool? Mrs. Smith told me I would be the perfect angel.”

“Mrs. Smith clearly knows what she’s talking about.” I swallowed hard; my baby was growing up. “Are you nervous?”

Wren shook her head so vigorously that her halo fell off. “Nope. I’m excited. Birdie told me I would be the best angel there ever was.”

I straightened up, “I couldn’t agree more.” I turned towards the kitchen table, “Ready for breakfast?”

Wren’s eyes went wide as they landed on the table, “Are those pancakes?”

“They sure are. I even added whipped cream and M&Ms.”

Wren’s jaw hit the floor. “No way!”

“Yup!”

She ran around the table and wrapped her arms around my legs. “You’re the best daddy in the world!”

“I don’t know about best.”

She took a step back and furrowed her brows before folding her arms. Over the last few months, Wren has picked up Blythe’s arm-crossing habit. “I think you are, and what I say goes.”

I looked to Blythe for assistance, but she was pouring herself a cup of coffee and shook her head, saying she wouldn’t go against whatever the kid said.

Breakfast this morning was filled with chatter about the Christmas pageant. Wren told us about the latest kindergarten gossip and why her friend Celeste didn’t get the angel part. According to Wren, “Celly got nervous in front of people and said she didn’t want to do it.”