Chapter 16

The decision to leave college hadn’t been easy.

Even though you’d made it months ago.

Even though you knew it was the right choice for you.

Some days it still hurt.

You loved Maya more than anything in the world.

Being her mom was the most important thing in your life.

But sometimes, late at night when the apartment was quiet and Paige was asleep beside you, you thought about the version of yourself that had once planned a completely different future.

And Paige noticed.

Of course she did.

Because Paige noticed everything.

She noticed how quiet you’d gotten lately.

How you brushed off compliments.

How you kept saying things like, “It’s not that hard,” whenever someone mentioned how much work raising a toddler was.

Like somehow being a stay-at-home mom didn’t count as real work.

Paige hated that.

Because from her perspective?

You did everything.

You kept your family together while she traveled for games.

You raised Maya with so much love and patience it genuinely amazed her.

You sacrificed things without ever complaining about it.

And Paige appreciated you more than words could explain.

Which was why, three days ago, she’d secretly booked you an entire day at one of the nicest spas in Connecticut.

And this morning, she finally handed you the envelope.

You blinked down at it in confusion while Maya sat in her high chair aggressively throwing cereal onto the floor.

“What’s this?”

Paige leaned against the counter trying and failing to act casual.

“Open it.”

You pulled out the papers.

Then immediately looked up.

“Paige.”

Full spa package.

Massage.

Facials.

Lunch.

Relaxation rooms.

The whole thing.

“Paige.”

Her expression softened instantly.

“You deserve a break.”

Your chest tightened.

“Baby, this had to cost so much.”

“I don’t care.”

She meant that too.

Completely.

You looked back down at the papers.

Then at her.

“I can’t just leave you alone with Maya all day.”

Paige looked offended.

“Excuse you.”

You laughed softly.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

She walked over and kissed your forehead.

“I can handle my daughter for one day.”

Maya immediately screamed from her high chair like she was contributing to the conversation.

Paige pointed dramatically.

“See? She agrees.”

You smiled despite yourself.

Then Paige gently cupped your cheeks.

Her voice softer now.

“You do so much for us.”

Emotion flickered across her face.

“And I know you’ve given up a lot.”

Your throat tightened immediately.

Paige kissed you gently before continuing.

“I just want you to have one day that’s completely for you.”

You nearly cried right there in the kitchen.

—

By eleven in the morning, you were gone.

And Paige was officially alone with Maya for the day.

At first?

Everything went great.

Almost suspiciously great.

They built block towers.

Watched cartoons.

Shared chicken nuggets.

Maya spent twenty minutes chasing Paige around the apartment while squealing hysterically.

Paige posted approximately fourteen pictures of her daughter before noon.

Very productive day.

Then came The Incident.

Paige had only looked away for maybe thirty seconds.

Thirty seconds.

That was all it took.

Because when she turned back around, Maya had somehow gotten into Paige’s basketball bag and found a permanent marker.

“Oh no.”

Paige’s heart dropped immediately.

Maya looked up proudly from where she’d drawn all over the wall.

Very abstract artwork.

Very expensive-looking artwork.

“Baby.”

Maya smiled.

Then continued drawing.

Paige rushed over instantly.

“No, no, no.”

She gently took the marker away.

Maya blinked.

Then frowned.

And because Paige knew she actually had to parent instead of laugh-

She crouched down seriously.

“Maya.”

Tiny pout.

“We do not draw on walls.”

Maya stared at her.

Paige pointed toward the marker.

“That was not nice.”

Maya’s lower lip trembled instantly.

Paige’s heart cracked immediately.

Still, she stayed firm.

“You cannot color on the walls.”

And then-

Maya burst into tears.

Real tears.

Big dramatic sobs.

Paige panicked instantly.

“Oh no.”

Maya turned and ran away crying on her tiny little toddler legs before disappearing into her room.

The sound of the bedroom door slamming-well, toddler slamming-echoed through the apartment.

Paige stood frozen in the living room holding the marker.

Completely devastated.

“Oh my God.”

She’d disciplined her daughter for the first time.

And it felt horrible.

Paige cautiously walked toward Maya’s room.

“Maya?”

No answer.

Tiny sniffles could still be heard though.

Paige opened the door slightly.

Maya sat dramatically on the floor beside her bed with tears on her cheeks and her stuffed bunny clutched against her chest.

The saddest one-year-old alive.

Paige immediately felt guilty.

“Baby girl.”

Maya turned away dramatically.

Paige almost laughed.

Almost.

Instead she sat down carefully near the doorway.

“You can’t draw on walls.”

Maya ignored her completely.

Still upset.

Paige sighed softly.

Then decided maybe they both needed a little time to calm down.

So she stood back up.

“I love you.”

No response.

Paige’s chest physically hurt.

—

An hour later, Paige knocked softly on Maya’s door before entering again.

This time Maya wasn’t crying anymore.

She was sitting on her bed hugging Bunny while quietly watching cartoons.

Paige sat beside her carefully.

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Then Paige gently rubbed Maya’s back.

“Hey.”

Maya looked up slowly.

Still sad.

Paige’s heart melted instantly.

“I need to talk to you, okay?”

Maya blinked.

Paige spoke softly.

“We don’t draw on walls because it makes messes.”

Maya listened carefully.

Or at least as carefully as a one-year-old could.

Paige gently tucked a curl behind Maya’s ear.

“But I am not mad at you.”

Tiny voice.

“Mama?”

Paige nearly cried on the spot.

“No, baby.”

She pulled Maya into her lap immediately.

“I could never stay mad at you.”

Maya sniffled softly before wrapping tiny arms around Paige’s neck.

And that was it.

Paige was emotionally destroyed.

“Oh my God.”

She hugged her daughter tightly.

“You have no idea how much I love you.”

Maya kissed her cheek messily.

Paige completely melted.

The rest of the day passed peacefully after that.

They colored-

On paper this time.

Played with blocks.

Danced in the kitchen.

And by seven o’clock, Maya was asleep curled around Bunny while Paige quietly rubbed her back.

Paige stayed there for a few extra minutes just looking at her daughter.

Still amazed this was her life.

Then around eight, the apartment door finally opened.

You stepped inside looking more relaxed than you had in months.

Paige immediately smiled from the couch.

“There she is.”

You laughed softly.

“I think I fell asleep during the massage.”

“As you should.”

You walked over and kissed her immediately.

“Thank you.”

Paige wrapped her arms around your waist.

“No need to thank me.”

Your expression softened.

Paige looked at you carefully.

Completely serious now.

“You deserved it.”

Your eyes watered slightly.

“Paige-“

“I’m serious.”

She gently brushed hair away from your face.

“You gave up so much for me and Maya.”

Your chest tightened immediately.

“And I love you so very much.”

Emotion filled your throat instantly.

Because Paige rarely said things halfway.

When she loved someone, she loved them fully.

Completely.

With everything she had.

You leaned down and kissed her softly.

And somewhere down the hallway, Maya shifted quietly in her sleep while the two people who loved her most held each other close in the living room.