Page 49 of Quintessentially

Kandace

“You’re both beautiful,” Dad says as Molly and I come down the stairs.

I’m wearing a sundress with a light sweater and sandals, and Molly is wearing pink shorts, a pink and white striped top with a big flower over her tummy, and a white bow in her hair. My lips are pink, and I’m wearing mascara.

“Is it too much?” I ask as Mom walks in the room.

“It’s perfect.”

My stomach is in knots as I fasten Molly into her car seat. Before I back away and shut the door, Molly reaches up to my cheek. “If you don’t like your old friend, we can eat ice cream at home.”

Tears threaten as I stare into her gold eyes. “I do like him.”

“Then why aren’t you smiling?”

Leaning closer, I kiss her forehead and smile. “You’re right, sweetie. I should smile.”

“Miss Pollard says our smiles tell other people we’re happy.”

Miss Pollard is Molly’s teacher. She was also my teacher long ago. That’s the way it works here.

“I’m happy because I’m with you.”

When I get in the front seat, my daughter continues talking a mile a minute. It’s hard to think of her as anything other than a child, yet each day she shows me how intuitive she is and how eager she is to learn.

“Dax is a funny name,” she says.

I look at her in the rearview mirror. “His real name is Daxton.”

“Like Abby. Her name is Abigale, but we all call her Abby.”

“Yeah, like that.”

“And sometimes people call you Kandi, but your name is Kandace.” She looks out the window and back to the mirror. “How come I don’t have two names?”

“Because Molly is the most perfect name. There’s no need to shorten it.”

She nods. “Yep. Where’s he been?”

“Who?”

“Dax. I only saw him at Joyce’s. If you know him, where has he been?”

Her question twists my heart. “He lives in Chicago.”

“With the dinosaurs?” she asks excitedly.

I grin. “Not with the dinosaurs in the museum, but yes, in that city.”

“Can we visit him and go to the museum and the big lake?”

“I don’t know about that.”

“But I liked the big lake.”

“It’s Lake Michigan.”

“Is Chicago in Michigan?”

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