Page 37 of Soldier's Chrismas Hope
“Let’s read our book now,” he said, patting the book, as if to tell her there was nothing more to be said about whether or not he was ready for preschool.
So she read to them about Farmer Bear and his family, happy to lose herself in the lovely story and the warm cuddles from her favorite two kids in the whole world.
By the time she was finished, John-John was nodding off as usual. Pixie looked pretty sleepy tonight too. The country air was good for her.
“That’s good, isn’t it, Aunt Nora?” Pixie whispered to her as she slipped out from between them.
“What’s good?” Nora asked her.
“It’s good that John-John wants to go to preschool,” Pixie said. “But it won’t be my old one, because it’s near the old house.”
“Yes, it will be a different one,” Nora said.
“But it will be nice, right?” Pixie asked.
There was a familiar note of worry in her voice, and Nora suddenly realized that she hadn’t heard that tonesince they had gotten to River’s house. Maybe this place was good for her for more than just the fresh air.
“I’ll make sure of it,” Nora told her. “We would never let John-John go to a preschool that isn’t nice.”
Pixie nodded and snuggled into her pillow. Nora waited a moment, in case there were other worries, but Pixie seemed content.
Nora left, closing the door behind her. But instead of heading back downstairs, she just stood in the hallway for a moment, trying to sort through her emotions.
On the one hand, she was beyond thrilled that John-John was feeling ready for preschool. There had been times over the last few months when Nora was convinced they would still be attached at the hip when he was a little old man. She knew it meant only good things that he was feeling ready to spread his little wings.
And she also felt a little sad at the idea of him going off to school every day.
Though it did mean she could go back to working at least part-time.
I wonder if Tony already found another tech…
It was probably for the best if he had. She couldn’t start working before the holidays anyway. Plus, it would take time to get John-John enrolled.
Her feet carried her down to the kitchen again without her thinking about it.
“Hey,” River said softly as he took the kettle off the stove. “Did they go down okay?”
“Yes,” she told him.
“Tea?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” she said, taking a seat at the table.
It was odd how much this already felt like an old habit, chatting together after the kids were in bed. It was hard to believe that they had only gotten here yesterday.
“John-John was already asleep by the time we finished their story,” she told him. “Pixie will be down in no time. They had so much fun today, and all the fresh air and exercise helps too.”
“He always falls asleep during the story, huh?” River asked, coming over and setting a steaming mug of peppermint tea in front of Nora, then sitting down across from her with his own mug.
“Usually,” she said, smiling. “When it’s a story he’s heard before. He said something before we read though, and I just… I can’t believe it.”
“What did he say?” River asked, frowning.
“Well, he should have started preschool this year,” Nora explained. “But he really didn’t want to go, so I didn’t make him.”
“After losing his mom, he shouldn’t have to make another big transition until he’s ready,” River said, nodding.
“That’s exactly what I felt, and the pediatrician said it was the right call,” Nora said, nodding.
