Tides and Tidings

Chapter 51

Blythe

M y life has become a literal dream—one I never thought I wanted.

Isn’t that the crazy part of living, though? You think you know what you want and then everything gets flipped upside down. One day, you’re living in Seattle at a dead-end job, not wanting to get married or have kids. The next, you quit your job, pack up your life and move across the country—only to end up opening a bookstore and dating a guy with a little girl you adore. The universe had different plans for me.

As I cleaned up the remaining decorations strewn about the living and dining rooms, Charlie and Wren took care of the dishes. Everything was gathered when a small green box in the middle of the table caught my attention. I had walked by it multiple times and hadn’t even registered it.

“Charlie, do you know what this is?” I held up the small green box with a white ribbon.

He popped his head around the corner from the kitchen, squinting his eyes. “No idea. Is there a tag?”

I rolled the box around, checking for any type of indicator. “Nope.”

“I know what it is!” Wren popped her head around the corner near Charlie.

I cocked a brow at her. “What is it?”

“It’s a gift for you from Grammy and Pop. I picked it out.”

I walked over to Charlie in the kitchen and set the box on the island before us. As we carefully untied the bow and opened the box, the most beautiful ornament appeared—it was a family of three holding hands that each bore a resemblance to each of us. At the bottom, there were three names—Daddy, Wren, and Mommy.

My heart lurched in my throat. They put the wrong name on there. My eyes met Charlie’s in a panic. They must have put Mom on it instead of my name or Birdie.

Charlie recognized my panicked face. Bless him for understanding me so well that he knew something was wrong.

He knelt. “Little Bird, why don’t you go upstairs and Birdie will be up in a few minutes to help you get ready for bed.”

She looked up at me. “Birdie, do you not like it?”

I put on the best fake smile I could. She couldn’t know it was wrong. “I love it. Thank you so much.”

“Do you see it says ‘Mommy’ on it?”

Wren wanted it to say that?

“I do.” I was cautious.

“It’s because you are my mommy. I know I call you Birdie, but you’re my mom.”

I got down on her level. I had to choose my words carefully, but I was at a loss. There was no way to say “I’m not your actual mom” to a six-year-old without causing a crisis.

“I know you didn’t carry me in your tummy, but you’re my mom. You bake me cookies for me to take to school. You watch shows with me. You buy me clothes. We cuddle and read together.” Wren shrugged, “So you’re my mommy.”

She had no idea how much weight her words carried. Tears streamed down my face.

“Are you mad?” Wren’s brow furrowed.

I enveloped her in the biggest hug I could. “Absolutely not. I love you. You make my life so much happier, Wrenny.”

“I love you more, Birdie! You’re my best friend.” She leaned in close, “Don’t tell Daddy.”

“I’m standing right here. I can hear you.” A broad smile tugged at Charlie’s lips. If I wasn’t mistaken, his eyes were a little bit misty.

Wren shrugged. “You always tell me I have to tell the truth.”

It was Charlie’s turn to be speechless. “I sure do.”

I let go of Wren. “Why don’t you go upstairs? I’ll be right up to help you get changed. I might even have a surprise for you.”

Her eyes went wide. “What is it?”

“Would it be a surprise if I told you right now?”

She pouted. “No.”

“Exactly! I’ll be right there.”

Wren took off up the stairs as my tears continued to fall. Charlie wrapped me up in a hug and pulled me close.

“You alright, love?”

I nodded into his chest. “That was just the sweetest thing. I could die right now and be happy.”

“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but that little girl adores you. You are everything to her.”

“No…”

He lifted my chin to make eye contact, “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’ve been a mom to her since she found you crying on the bookstore floor. She adores you. She’s your best friend.” He gave me a pointed look, “Her words, not mine.”

“Birdie!” Wren yelled down the stairs. “Where’s my surprise?”

Charlie and I shared a laugh.

“You better get up there.” He nodded towards the stairs.

“Is our plan still in place?”

He knew exactly what I was talking about and nodded in response.

I broke away from his hug and clapped. A Barbie Jeep, time with her favorite people, pizza, Christmas tree decorating, and now matching pajamas for all three of us before we watched a movie—this was going to be the best day of Wren’s life.