Page 106 of Blindly Yours

“Yeah, but,” she pushes her mess of bedhead blonde out of her face so she can take a bite, “Rose would be my mom too, right?”

I pull out the chair next to her and sit down with a deep breath. “If I marry Rose…or anyone else…she would help take care of you, and love you just like I do, and just like your mom did, but it would be up to you if you want to call her ‘mom.’ That’s your decision.”

She shrugs as she chews her cereal and says quietly, “I think I might like to call her mom, maybe.” She pauses and then adds abruptly, “That’s not my final answer though!”

I laugh and smooth her hair. “You have plenty of time to think about it. Rose and I still need to get to know each other for a while to see if we want to get married.”

“She’s nice, and she’s pretty.” Kara shrugs again. “Seems easy to me.”

I laugh again and stand to return to the dishes.Nice and pretty.If only it were so simple.

“Do you think she wants to marry you?” Kara asks from behind me. “You’re really cool and handsome.”

“Thank you, Kara,” I chuckle. “But I think she needs some time to decide too.”

“I already know I want to marry Owen,” she says simply.

I almost drop a plate. But I respond as easily as I can. “Who’s Owen?”

“He’s in the other first-grade class at school. But I see him at recess. He said he wants to marry me too.”

Dear lord, it’s starting already.I take a deep breath and keep my back to her like I’m not shaken by this at all. “What do you like about him?”

Her spoon clanks inside of her bowl as she responds. “He’s the fastest of all the boys in our grade, even in piggyback races. I’m his partner, and he said I don’t even weigh him down.”

“You ride on his back for the races?” I feel the grey hairs forming already.

“Yeah, all the girls do. The boys always do the carrying. We have races every day, from the big tree to the swing set near the fence. Maddy rides on Tyler’s back, and Jackie is usually with Cody or James. But Owen and I always win because he’s the fastest.”

“Sounds like he’s a good partner.” I drain the water from the sink. “What else do you like about him?”

“He has blonde hair, like mine. I like that we have the same color. And, I don’t know, he said he wants to marry me too, so I guess we’re a good match.”

I dry my hands and turn to her again. “When did the two of you decide you wanted to get married?”

“Yesterday,” she replies like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “But we won’t get married until we’re grown-ups. This is just a plan.”

“Of course.” I nod, leaning casually against the counter. “So will I get to meet this young man tonight at your class play?”

She stands and brings her bowl to the sink. “Sure.”

“Rose said she’d like to come watch too. Is that ok?”

Kara lights up. “Really? Yes!” She pumps her fist. “This is the best!”

“Alright, and maybe we can all get some ice cream afterward.” I grab her backpack from the counter and pass it over as she pumps her fist again. “Now, hurry up. The bus will be here any minute.”

She slings her backpack over her shoulders and then wraps her arms around me and squeezes tight. “I love you, Dad.”

I hug her back and press a grinning kiss on the top of her head. “I love you too, Kara. I’ll see you tonight.”

“K.” She heads to the door. “Bye!”

“Have a good day.” I wave as she disappears outside.

***

That evening, after I pick Rose up on my way out of the city, we head to Kara’s school. Most days, she participates in the after-school program so I can work a full day, but today, Jackie’s mom offered to watch her for the afternoon and bring her back to the school for the performance.

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