Page 87 of No Greater Love
We stayed like that until we heard Paige's key in the lock. After-school program until 4:30, same routine every day. The normalcy of it made my chest ache.
"Hey Dad! Hey Tasha!" She bounced into the kitchen, backpack sliding off one shoulder. "Guess what? Maya's having a sleepover for her birthday and I'm invited! Can I go?"
"When is it?" Nate asked, and I could see him filing the information away, already thinking about how it might conflict with whatever Sarah had planned.
"Two weeks. We're going to watch movies and make friendship bracelets and Maya's mom said we could stay up until midnight!"
"Sounds fun," I said, ruffling her hair. "Hey kiddo, why don't you get started on homework? Your dad and I need to talk to you about something in a bit."
Paige's face immediately shifted to worry. "Am I in trouble?"
"No, baby. Nothing like that."
"Is someone sick? Did something happen to Mrs. Swanson?"
"Everyone's fine," Nate assured her. "Just... some grown-up stuff we need to discuss. Go do your homework first, okay?"
She nodded but I could see the wheels turning. Paige was too smart not to pick up on the tension.
After she headed to her room, Nate and I looked at each other.
"Together?" I asked.
"Together," he confirmed.
An hour later, homework allegedly complete, Paige sat between us on the couch, looking smaller than usual. Nate had that careful expression he got when he was about to deliver difficult news.
"Sweetie," he started, then stopped, running a hand through his hair. "Okay. So. You know how sometimes we've talked about your biological mom?"
Paige went very still. "The one who left when I was a baby?"
"Yes. Well, she... she contacted me. She wants to meet you."
"Why?"
Trust Paige to cut straight to the heart of it.
"She says she's in a better place now. More stable. She'd like to get to know you."
"But she didn't want to know me before."
"It's complicated, baby. Sometimes adults make choices that?—"
"That's stupid," Paige interrupted, which was so unlike her that both Nate and I blinked. "She didn't want me when I was little and now she does? That doesn't make sense."
"You're right," I said. "It doesn't make a lot of sense."
Paige looked at me, then at Nate. "Do I have to?"
"No," Nate said immediately. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"But?" Paige was too perceptive to miss the hesitation.
"But it might be good to meet her once. Just to see. If you hate it, we don't do it again."
"Will you be there?"
"Absolutely."
