Page 5 of Promise Me This
I lift her onto the marble island, steadying her small body as she peels the banana with fierce concentration.
“’Member how Mommy used to do it?” she asks, not taking her attention off what she’s doing.
Every time she brings Sarah up, it’s a punch to the gut.
A bruise that never fully fades.
“Of course I do,” I say, making sure to keep my voice even. Elody doesn’t need to hear how the word mommy slices me wide open. Sarah left over a year ago, but some mornings it feels like she walked out yesterday. “You’ve almost got it.”
Elody nods, proud of her accomplishment. Once she’s devoured half of it, she grins, showing off the banana mush coating her teeth.
With a snort, I shake my head. “Pretty gross, El.”
Her laugh is bright and unbothered, and I take it as proof I’m doing something right. My girl is happy. Loved.
Although, it doesn’t stop the fear that I’m failing her in other ways from sneaking back in.
When the smoke alarm chirps, Elody’s eyes widen. “Daddy, it beeped again!”
“There’s nothing to worry about. It just means the air is still smoky. By the time we get home later, it’ll be fine. Promise.”
When my phone buzzes on the counter, I pick it up and glance at the screen.
Steele:
Where you at? Practice is in fifteen.
That’s when I notice the time.
Well, shit.
How are we already so far behind schedule?
“Okay.” I grab Elody’s backpack from the chair. “We’re officially late. Socks, coat, preschool. Let’s move it.”
She freezes mid-bounce. “I don’t want socks.”
“Elody…”
Her eyes widen. “They’re itchy!”
“They’re not itchy,” I mutter, not wanting to have this argument now.
“They are. They’re so itchy! I hate wearing them!”
I inhale slowly and remind myself that she’s only four. Then I crouch until we’re eye level. “How about the sparkly ones?”
Her brows slam together. “The rainbow sparkles?”
“Yep. Rainbow sparkles. You can be fancy today.”
“I thought those were for special times.”
“Well, today, running late counts as special.”
“Yay!”
My shoulders loosen as I exhale.
