You Stayed With Us

The Never-Ending Story Hour

Lisa's POV

By the time I packed up my camera gear and said goodbye to the client, my shoulders were screaming for a nap. But the minute I glanced at the clock, all thoughts of rest went out the window. School pick-up time.

I swear, I barely had the car in park outside the gate before I saw three familiar shapes break away from the crowd like I was the finish line of a race.

"DADA!"

Ella was leading the charge, backpack bouncing, followed by Noah and Nathan who were practically tripping over each other to get to me first. The moment they reached me, it was a full-on group tackle — arms around my neck, bags smacking my side, and three different voices firing "I missed you!" at the same time.

"Whoa, whoa!" I laughed, hugging them tight even though I was dangerously close to losing my balance. "Did you guys get extra energy packs at school today?"

"No," Nathan said seriously, "but I had two cookies at recess."

"That explains it," I chuckled, shaking my head as I ushered them toward the car.

From the moment we pulled out of the parking lot, the talking began.

"Dada, guess what?!" Ella blurted. "My friends and I made a plan to join the school club together!"

"Dada, my friend brought a dinosaur toy—" Noah started.

"Noah, wait, I'm telling her first—" Nathan interrupted.

"No, I was first—"

By the time we hit the second stoplight, I'd given up trying to answer each story in order. I just smiled, nodding along like a professional referee who'd decided to let the match run itself.

When we got home, the front door had barely clicked open before the stampede began.

"Mommy!" Ella, Noah, and Nathan practically threw themselves at Jennie, nearly toppling her over as Scarlett toddled in from the living room to join the hug pile.

Jennie looked up at me over their heads, her smile soft and tired in the best way.

"Dada!" Scarlett spotted me next, wiggling out of the hug pile and running toward me with that determined little march only she had. I bent down to scoop her up, breathing in that warm, strawberry-shampoo scent.

"I missed you too, baby," I said, kissing her cheek.

"Mommy teached me!" she announced proudly, pointing toward the living room.

"She did, huh?" I carried her over, and sure enough, the coffee table was covered in alphabet blocks, number cards, and a half-toppled tower of colored rings.

"Okay," I grinned, sitting her down on the couch, "Dada's turn to test you."

Jennie groaned behind me. "Lisa..."

But Scarlett was already ready, little chin up like she was about to win a game show.

"Alright, baby girl," I said, picking up a card. "What letter is this?"

"Um... Q!" she declared.

I turned it around for her to see. "Close. It's actually an O."

Jennie facepalmed from the kitchen doorway.

"Okay, okay," I laughed. "What's this color?" I held up a bright red block.

"Banana!" she said confidently.

I swear, I almost dropped the block from laughing so hard.

"No, baby, banana is a fruit," I chuckled. "This is red."