A note of hope
1051 Words
Chapter 3: A Note of Hope
The sun was sinking low in the Portland sky, casting a warm amber glow over the suburban houses, as Aiden Sullivan pulled into his own driveway. The grate of tires on gravel was a comforting sound, grounding him after a long day at the pediatric clinic. He turned the ignition key, the low rumble of the car silenced.
In the backseat, he observed his daughter Emily sitting in her booster seat, nose pressed against the glass, arms around her backpack like it was a precious secret.
"Did you draw something again?" Aiden asked with a smile as he unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to look at her.
Emily shrugged modestly, even though her eyes were sparkling. "Maybe. You have to guess."
He chuckled, standing up to walk over and open the back door. The scent of spring roses mingled through the air, blended with the sweet odor of crayons and glue that stuck to Emily's sweater.
"Okay, let me guess…" He removed her backpack from her lap, pretending it was heavier than it was. "Hmm, this is. a life-sized dragon drawing?"
Emily giggled. "No, Daddy!"
"A unicorn exhibit?"
She let out a shriek, already spilling out of the vehicle. "You're terrible at this game. Wait until you see it!"
Inside, their home was plain but cozy. The walls were covered in photographs most of which were of Emily. Aiden's world, condensed in every smile she gave to the camera. He tossed his keys onto the entryway table, already hearing the familiar unzipping of her backpack approaching behind him.
"Okay, okay! I’m ready! Show me this mysterious masterpiece."
Emily handed him a folded sheet of paper. "It’s a note from Ms. Rivera. For you."
He raised an eyebrow, expecting the usual reminders about snack duty or permission slips. But as he unfolded the paper and read the bold heading at the top, something shifted in the air.
Family Day - Next Friday!
Aiden blinked. The letters ran together somewhat as he read the rest:
"Every child is asked to bring their family for an entertaining morning of games, a little show, and a picnic! Parents, guardians, grandparents all are welcome!"
"Family Day," he said aloud. A knot churned low in his stomach.
"Gonna come?" Emily asked quietly now, uncertain. Her hands were folded behind her back, staring at his face like preparing herself for disappointment.
"Yes, of course I am," Aiden said quickly, folding the paper neatly. "You think I'd miss singing along to you doing 'You Are My Sunshine' again? No chance."
She smiled, but not really. That half smile she produced when she was trying to be brave.
"Last time… I was the only one to only have one parent. All the others had mom and dad. And some even had two moms or two dads."
Aiden got down on one knee in front of her, brushing the stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You've got a pretty awesome dad, though. Right?"
"Yeah." Her voice was small, hardly a whisper. "But sometimes I wish I did have a mom too. Just so people wouldn't keep asking so many questions."
Something inside of Aiden's chest broke. Not with rage, but helplessness. He'd done everything he could to give her a happy, safe world. And yet here it was this instant he couldn't protect her from.
"Hello," he whispered. "You know what I think? I think that families are not the same for everyone. Some have a single parent. Some have grandparents. Some have two mothers, or fathers, or even just a cool aunt. It's not about how many people come, it's about the love. And I love you more than anything."
Emily smiled slowly, but her eyes remained wide and unsure. "Can we bake cookies? For Family Day? I wanna share with the class. So they can see. we're a good family."
"Best thing I've heard all week." Aiden rose to his feet, ruffling her hair. "Chocolate chip?"
She grinned. "With extra chips. Like, too many."
"Now you're talking."
As the night wore on, the two of them were a whirlwind in the kitchen traces of flour on the surfaces, smudges of batter on Emily's nose, and the timer on the oven going off like a metronome of happiness. Emily sat beside him on the stool, rolling dough into misshapen balls as Aiden stuck a couple of chocolate chips into his mouth when she wasn't looking.
"Daddy, I saw that."
"I have no clue what you're talking about. I'm a professional pediatrician. I do not commit crimes."
"That was a chocolate chip heist."
They burst out laughing, huge and sloppy and plentiful.
That night, after teeth brushing and reading about how a brave duck became a pond hero, Aiden tucked Emily in. She held on tightly to her favorite stuffed fox against her chest, eyes already starting to close.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"Thanks for accepting Family Day. I'm glad you're coming."
Aiden bent and kissed her forehead. "I'm the lucky one, Em. Sleep tight."
He turned off the bedside light and stood there, his ears straining to catch the up and down of her breathing. Then he went down the hall to his own bedroom, sitting on the edge of his bed cradling the note in his hand.
Family Day. A reminder of what they hadn't had but also, possibly, a chance to remind Emily of what they had.
He folded the note again and tucked it into his nightstand. No master plan or hare-brained scheme. Just him, and her, and a picnic basket full of cookies.
And love. Always, love.
The next morning, Aiden arrived early to talk to Dr. Patel. The older man smiled into his cup of coffee, bobbing his head.
"Of course, take Friday morning off. Be a dad. The rest can wait."
"Thank you," Aiden said, the weight lifting from his shoulders.
As he made his way back to his office, the letter from Emily still safely in his coat pocket, he knew one thing for certain:
No matter what it would show up for her. Always.
Even when the world wasn't quite ready to get their little family yet, he'd ensure Emily never had to question it.
And perhaps,Family Day would be the beginning of something even better.
- Writer
