“Look at my egg, Mommy!” she said, shoving it toward me.
“It’s beautiful. I love the notes,” I told her.
“It’s ‘Don’t Stop,’ and it’s for Brady because he taught it to me,” she said. My heart twisted, and my breath caught. Fear. I had to push past it. I had to attempt to let someone into our lives. It was so unfair to both of us if I didn’t.
“Well, good thing he’s coming to dinner. You can give it to him yourself.”
“He is?!” Hannah cried out with excitement just as Stacy said the same words with a questioning look.
“Well, this is an interesting twist,” Jin said, laughter barely contained in his voice.
“Lee Jin-Kang, don’t you dare scare her off!” Stacy scolded before turning to me with a smirk. “Go. Have fun!”
Hannah capped the lid she’d been using and carefully set the egg down before sliding out of her chair to run to the door. As she put her shoes on, she said, “Let’s go, Mommy. We don’t want to keep him waiting.”
“Don’t you think you’re forgetting something?” I asked with a wave of my head in the direction of Stacy.
She skipped back, flung herself into Stacy’s arms, and said, “Thank you for the eggs and taking me to see the chicks and for getting all the stuff for my party.”
Then, she grabbed the musical note egg and ran back to the door.
I hugged my friend. “Thank you for everything you’ve been doing for me. I just want you to know I don’t take it for granted.”
Stacy’s eyes filled with unshed tears, and she pushed at my shoulder with hers. “Stop. It’s nothing.”
“How much do I owe you for the party supplies?”
“I left the receipt on the counter with the bags at your house. You can Venmo me when you get a chance,” she said.
I ruffled Jalissa’s and Kiran’s hair and started to leave before I said, “I forgot, did you see the school today?”
Stacy smiled wide. “Yep, they tore down most of the walls. It’s exciting.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“Mommy! Brady’s going to miss us.”
My heart flipped. Stacy and I exchanged a look before I left to join my daughter at the door. Hannah had her hat on and was jumping from foot to foot in the entryway.
“Goodnight,” I hollered and Hannah repeated.
“I expect a rundown later,” Stacy shouted back, and I smiled.
When we got to the house, Brady was already there, leaning against the porch pillar in a pose I was sure many a social influencer would love to have on their site. He was still in the beat-up jeans and blue T-shirt from earlier, but in the evening twilight, he seemed to shimmer like an actual star.
Hannah went running up the steps, one hand on her hat, one hand held out with the egg in it. She tripped as she hit the last one, and Brady caught her before she fell, pulling her into his arms. It was the second time he’d had reflexes faster than mine, saving my daughter as if he had worlds of experience catching people from falling.
I wasn’t sure if it would include me as I continued to fall.
“I made this for you,” Hannah said, completely comfortable in his embrace as he held her up against his chest, her little legs circling him as they usually did me. A monkey holding on.
“You did? Are you sure you want to give it away? This looks like it took a lot of time,” he said as he took the egg and squinted at the mix of notes. “Is this ‘Don’t Stop’?” She nodded, and his eyes met mine. “That’s pretty incredible, Hannah.”
She beamed.
From inside the house, Molly barked, desperate to be a part of the action.
I unlocked the door, and we all shed our shoes and coats in the entryway before Hannah zipped to open the laundry door for Molly. The two fell in a bundle of yips and laughter on the floor before Molly realized we had a guest, and then she came bounding over to Brady, jumping at him before sitting down and rolling over.
