Page 60 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

I glance at Dayna, and she does the same. Maybe Juliette really did hear us.

Christmas came in a blur of wrapping paper and laughter.

Sadie launched herself into our bed at five in the morning.

Demanding we call Cara for her birthday before even checking if Santa came.

Dayna had never experienced a Christmas morning quite like this one.

She wondered how this tiny human could have so much energy without coffee.

Once Sadie was nestled between us, we called Cara.

She was half asleep but called later at a more reasonable hour ( for her ) to tell us she loved the pack of highlighters from Sadie.

Because, teachers could never have enough highlighters.

Sadie loved her gifts from me and Dayna.

Dayna and I spent the morning assembling her toys.

She barely let me finish tightening the bolts on her new bike before she was outside with her new princess helmet.

With the training wheels on and pink tinsel dangling off the handle bars, she was riding in circles in our driveway.

Shouting with glee, that she finally had a bicycle like Amelia Bedelia.

Once she got acclimated on her bike, the three of us took a bike ride together around town.

By late-afternoon, the house looked like a toy store exploded.

With the living room full of discarded wrapping paper, I took a black trash bag and started throwing away trash and what we could recycle.

We were able to FaceTime Sadie’s grandparents, Dayna’s family, and my brother, Liam.

He wanted to see Sadie’s reaction to the gifts he sent her.

He also told me I sounded like a cat in heat when I sang at the Christmas program.

I didn’t know Dayna sent him a video of my class’ performance until I got a row of skull emojis sent to me that afternoon.

Then he said his niece sounded like an angel and doesn’t know how I could have helped reproduce such an angelic voice, when I sounded awful.

I had asked Dayna about it and she laughed so hard, she snorted.

It was worth hearing that hearty laugh from her.

As our FaceTime continued, it was time to let Sadie rip into her last gift.

My six-year-old is the proud owner of a two-seater, pink Ford Bronco power wheel.

He made sure I added in the pink Triceratops stuffy in the passenger seat, so she could have a buddy to ride with.

She lost her ever loving mind when she pulled the wrapping paper off.

“Thank you! Thank you, Uncle Liam! This-this is so awesome! And I got a pink Triceratops?” She screams with glee. I glance over at Dayna and she’s watching our girl bounce around the living room hugging her new stuffy. “I’m naming her, Trixie!”

“You are very welcome! Girlie and Trixie, I like that!” Liam said as he’s smiling with a crinkle in his eyes. “I hope you don’t get stopped for any traffic violations. If you do, tell them you want to speak to your lawyer.” He adds with a proud smirk. “I will!”

I cackle at that. I have no doubt my brother will represent Sadie as a defense lawyer. I’m really relieved that the Power Wheel is remote controlled. “I have a Christmas dinner I need to get ready for, enjoy your new car, Girlie. I love you!” I move the screen to face me.

“Thanks Liam, I appreciate her gift. We hope you liked your glitter pens and pink legal pads?—”

“I picked those!” Sadie drops Trixie in the passenger seat and shouts as she runs upstairs.

“I had no doubt they came from you!” He raises his voice as he sees Sadie’s feet running up the stairs behind me.

“Lukey, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this happy.

I love this for you. And you, Dayna… Thank you for making a difference in the Beckett family.

I love you both. I’ll talk to you soon.” We both wave bye and the screen goes black.

Dayna kisses my cheek and “The Becketts have made a difference in my life too.” She says with a heartfelt smile.

Sadie comes running down the stairs with the paper manual in her hands .

“Daddy! Did you know you can drive me around from the porch swing!” She had shouted when she realized it came with a remote.

Dayna fastened Trixie the Triceratops into the passenger seat, adjusting the little sunglasses Sadie added for extra sparkle as she always does.

Giggling as she’s climbing in her princess helmet slightly crooked, he pressed the fake ignition switch.

She looked up at Dayna, at me, her hazel eyes filled with nothing but pure joy.

It hit me then, not as a whisper, not as a slow realization, but like a certainty I could feel in my chest. This wasn’t a second chance at something I lost. It wasn’t a replacement for what came before.

This was our family. Right now. It’s us.

January settled into a rhythm. Mornings started with Dayna stealing a sip of coffee while Sadie twirled in circles, showing off her outfit of the day that her and Dayna picked out from the night before.

By the time we pile into the truck, I was already outnumbered.

The moment Dayna connects her phone to the CarPlay, she and Sadie break into a full-on car concert, belting out whatever song was added to their playlist.

Some mornings, I catch myself watching them instead of the road, caught between the silliness of the two of them screaming along to Pink Pony Club at seven in the morning and the quiet, unexpected peace of it all.

I hadn’t realized how much I needed this.

Not just the routine. Not just Sadie being happy.

But the certainty that I wasn’t doing this alone anymore.

A little over a year ago, I’d come home to silence after she went to bed.

Now, the house was full— not just of noise, but of presence.

Of something I thought I’d lost forever.

My class has currently been in our technology unit and I have a field trip tomorrow.

Sadie has been talking nonstop about being able to hang out in the office until Dayna is ready to leave work.

Sadie just walked into my classroom with a tiny yellow flower in her hands.

I see her go straight to the cupboards to get a glass jar and fill it up with water from her water tumbler, ice included .

“Hi Daddy!” She looks in my direction. “I picked this flower at recess and I’m going to save this for Mommy.” She says as she places the delicate flower in the jar of iced water. It floats to the top, and she walks over to my desk. “Can we take it home?” Lifting the jar for me to get a closer look.

“Of course, Sadie Girl. It’s a beautiful flower, I know mommy will love it.” I say as she hands the jar to me. “How was your day, Daddy?” She coughs into her sleeve but doesn’t take her eyes off of mine.

“Well let’s see…my day went well. My students took a math test, they weren’t too thrilled about it. Then I had lunch with Dayna and we had last night’s dinner.”

“Did you share with Mrs. Emily?”

“No, princess, she had her own lunch with Principal McKenna.”

“Oh that sounds fun!” She says as she rounds the corner of my desk, placing her hand on the back of my chair. She looks up at me with pleading eyes. “Can I draw on the white board?” I reach into my desk drawer and bring out the box of expo markers, with it being mid year, I only have a few left.

“Yes, but please—” Sadie cuts me off. “Put the caps back on and give you back the markers.” She says smiling.

With Sadie at my white board drawing, I’m making sure I have everything I need for tomorrow.

Emergency cards, food allergies, list of kids who potentially get car sick per their parents knowledge.

I have to make sure I have enough sickness bags.

I have imported all the chaperones’ phone numbers into my phone and compiled groups of students into groups of six with each grown up.

The chaperones will have the same itinerary handouts with my phone number along with the other third-grade teacher, Mr. Austin Miller.

Taking a look at the time and seeing Sadie sitting on one of the desks with her head down I noticed she’s sleeping. The hum of the heater surrounds us. “Sadie Girl, you ready to go get Dayna? It’s four o’clock.” I say as I gather the field trip paperwork and place it in my backpack.

She nods her head against the desk and stretches as she sits up straighter.

“Yeah, I’m tired, Daddy.” Grabbing the box of markers and placing them on my desk, she picks up her backpack, lunch pail and empty water tumbler.

I tuck my empty coffee tumbler into my backpack and reach to get her things to hold for her.

“Do you want me to carry you?” She nods her head and lifts her arms up, without hesitation, I gather her into my chest. Her weight against mine is familiar.

Light, but not. I don’t think she’ll understand how much I carry for her, how much I’ll always carry.

Once she’s secured in my arms I lean over to grab the jar with the flower and lock up my classroom.

We make it to the front office and Sadie is completely knocked out.

Mrs. Emily is gone for the day and I see Dayna’s door closed.

She’s the last one in the building. I knock gently, and our eyes lock.

She quickly gets up and opens the door for me.

“Hi, Love. Are you almost ready?” I say quietly.

“Yeah, I was just emailing a parent back. It’ll be a couple minutes.” With Sadie in my arms I sway softly as I wait. Dayna hits send and shuts down her computer. She grabs her work bag and tucks the coffee tumbler into her bag.

We walk out of her office and before we reach the door, she sets her work bag on the front desk counter.

Without hesitation, she reaches for Sadie, adjusting her against her shoulder with the ease of routine.

For the first time, I wonder if she realizes it, how natural it’s become.

Sadie stirs, then nestles her head on Dayna’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around her neck.

Dayna rubs her back in slow, soothing circles. It’s instinctive. Maybe it always was.