She ducked into the bathroom again, freshened up, then flopped back onto the bed. “Ugh, Chad, I washed my face and now I’m wide awake.”
Wayne groaned, “Mooom~”
Molly glanced over. “Wait, how come you’re still up too?”
After a week of adventures, the three of them finally came back home.
The world was bursting with spring—leaves lush, grass thick, everything alive.
Henry, sporting a fire-engine-red hoodie, zipped down the park path on his skateboard, wheels humming.
His mom jogged after him, sneakers slapping the pavement. “Henry! Slow down! What’s your rush, you think you’re late for a lottery ticket or something?”
By sunset, the lake shimmered gold and silver. Mia and Henry strolled hand in hand to wait outside Cedillo Inc., eager to greet their favorite guy as he finished work.
As soon as Andre appeared, Henry sprinted over, waving his little arms. Andre scooped him up high and asked, “What are we eating tonight? And what do you want to do afterwards?”
A warm, gentle breeze drifted by. On their walk home, they spotted another mom and kid picking out kites. Mia and Henry ended up spending half an hour debating which one to get.
They couldn’t agree, so Mia declared, “Rock, paper, scissors! Winner picks.”
Only, Henry had no clue how to play.
So, right there by the flower beds, Mia taught him. She figured he’d be easy to beat—kids his age usually are—but…
“Ha! You lost again!” Henry giggled, holding up a tiny fist against Mia’s scissors.
Mia pouted, “No way! Best two out of three!”
Andre played referee, grinning as he watched the showdown.
But “best two out of three” totally confused Henry. He just stood there, bewildered, while Mia tried to explain and ended up in a tangle.
Eventually, after three rounds, Henry squealed in victory, showing off his little milk teeth. “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say!”
Henry just looked even more confused, his little face scrunched up with questions too big for him.
Andre patiently broke down the game, then tried to teach him about contracts. “You know how contracts work?”
Henry’s round face went blank. He half-listened, half-daydreamed, catching only bits and pieces.
Mia laughed. “Babe, you’re talking contracts with a preschooler. Look at him—he doesn’t even know what a contract is.”
Henry shook his head, now perched in his dad’s arms, ears full of grown-up talk.
Right then, the kite seller called out, “Hey, want to buy a kite?”
“Yes!” Mia answered immediately.
Henry’s eyes lit up. “Mommy, I want one too!”
“That’s why we’re getting one, baby,” Mia said, ruffling his hair.

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