Fated Firsts – Chase and Gray

**This bonus scene occur years after the Fated Hearts series ends, but you can read it after finishing Chasing Mr. Wright. It doesn’t include spoilers for the other books.

Name: Grace Abigail Wright

Age: 6

First Day of: Kindergarten

Wants to be: Pirate

Gray looked up from the little chalkboard prop I made for pictures. “A pirate?”

“Listen, I only filled in the blanks.” Gray arched a disbelieving brow. “And I tried to talk her into choosing something that wouldn’t make her teacher wary right out of the gate, but no. ‘Girls can be pirates too, Daddy,’” I said in my best imitation.

Gray chuckled. “Indeed, but I’d hoped to get through a week without phone calls or emails.” He looked at the chalkboard again and shook his head. “I’m blaming Gram for this.”

I was just glad he wasn’t blaming me, but then again, Gram was the most likely culprit. She had written a series of children’s books featuring a little girl named Gracie Gail, who traveled through history to experience childhood in different eras. Most little girls loved the book about being a princess, but not their Gracie Gail. She wanted to be a pirate.

“Fair enough.” I kissed his cheek and sipped the coffee he’d made for me. “How are you doing?”

“Me?” Gray asked. “It’s not my first day of school.”

I recognized his denial tactic for what it was: A man struggling with his baby girl going off to school. They’d been mentally preparing themselves and Gracie for this day, and now it was upon them… It wasn’t any easier, at least not for them. Their daughter hadn’t stopped hopping, skipping, and singing about her big day since she woke up.

“She’s excited and happy,” I said.

Gray nodded. “And we’re excited and happy…for her.” His voice was as thick as the emotions lodged in my throat. “She’s going to do great.” His pale blue eyes filled with tears, and I felt myself welling up again.

Gray cleared his throat and handed the chalkboard back to me. “Who wants to take pictures now?”

“Me!” Our three children said.

Gracie shepherded Sam and Michael, her four-year-old twin brothers, out the front door. She positioned them on either side of her like adorable bookends. After two dozen posed shots and selfies, they headed off to school. Gracie skipped, Gray pushed the twins in their double stroller, and I walked our dog, Mo.

The school was only a few blocks from our house, and my heart squeezed tighter with every step closer to the pretty brick building. Gracie’s chatter picked up the second the playground came into sight, and she mapped out her big plans for recess.

“You can’t hog the swings,” Gray said.

“I know, Papa.”

“And let’s not play pirate princess on the monkey bars,” I added.

“Fine, Daddy.”

It was easy to pick out the kindergarten parents in the crowd outside the building. Their smiles and laughter were fragile, and they held onto their babies a little longer. Gray and I were no different. We squatted down to be on eye level with our baby girl.

“You’re going to have an amazing day, Peanut,” Gray said. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Papa.” Gracie kissed his cheek and then threw herself into my arms. Gracie Gail was every dream I had never wished for until I met Gray. She smelled like bubble gum shampoo and butterscotch candies. I’d have to find her secret stash when I got home. “Love you, Daddy.”

“Love you. I’ll be right here after school.”

She pulled back from the hug and looked into my eyes. “Can you bring Oliver with you?” The orange tabby had been her constant companion since we brought her home from the hospital.

“It’s too undignified for him, but I bet he’ll meet you at the door when we get home.”

“Yay!” she said, twirling in a circle.

“Someone is happy to be here,” Mrs. Jacoby, the school principal, said. “How are the dads doing?” We played it off like we were as happy as Gracie, but the wise woman saw right through us. Mrs. Jacoby leaned over and petted Mo’s head. “And who is this handsome fella?”

“Meet Mo, Mrs. Jacoby,” I said. “He’s available to be the school mascot if you don’t have one.”

She chuckled as she rose to her full height. “I’ll keep that in mind. Is Mo short for something?”

I wasn’t surprised. Everyone asked us that. “Nope.”

“He just looks like a Mo,” Gracie said.

“Indeed,” the principal replied. She extended her hand to our daughter. “Ready?”

Gracie placed her hand in the principal’s and said, “Yes!”

Mrs. Jacoby looked at us, and we mimicked Gracie to the best of our ability. Sam and Michael were much more convincing when it was their turn to respond.

“Let’s head on into the school,” Mrs. Jacoby said.

Gracie gave us a little wave over her shoulder before turning around and leaving us behind. It was hard to be miserable when our daughter was so delighted for this next journey in life. Once she walked through the door, we began our trip back home.

Gray put his arm around my waist and leaned into me. “Did you smell butterscotch on her breath?”

“Yep.”

“Explains the extra happiness this morning,” Gray said.

I chuckled. “I’ll locate the secret stash when the boys are down for their naps later.”

“Never a dull moment,” huh?” I leaned into his embrace and said, “And I wouldn’t change a thing.”