The Aftermath of Callie and Arizona

The Ticking Maternal Clock

Arizona's POV:

The next day, right before we left to take Sophia to school, Ari asked Callie if she could borrow her car for the day. Ari needed to sign some paperwork between her new job and the offer on the condo she had proposed.

"Sure Ari, I'll go grab the keys from the hook, hang on." Callie retrieved her keys from the front room and handed them to her sister, who was sitting at the kitchen table when she returned.

"Sophia! Are you ready to go! Hurry up or you're going to be late." I had to speak up from my vantage point in the kitchen for our daughter to hear me. "You know what grandpa says about being on time?"

"Yes... It's better to be early, than on time or especially late." I could hear Sophia begrudgingly walk down the hallway, finally.

"Exactly, so let's at least shoot for on time this morning, shall we my love?" I hugged and kissed Sophia as she strode into the kitchen, backpack over her shoulders.

"Here's your lunch bag," I handed her the princess lunch bag she had to have that year and she grumbled. 

"This is for babies, can I get a different lunch bag?" I hadn't thought about it, but Soph was getting older and starting to outgrow a lot of her interests I'd noticed recently. It only takes a few months and probably influences from her friends for her to decide what's cool now, and what isn't.

Wow, our daughter had unbelievably grown up, especially in the last 5 months. I had a feeling this was going to be a recurring feeling/theme in my life from this point and going forward, in regard to Sophia. It broke my heart a little, but also made me happy at the same time. It's hard to explain the bleeding heart of a Mom sometimes...

"Well Bug, you only have a couple more weeks of school left and next year, we can get you a new lunch bag and backpack, okay?" She nodded, but wasn't happy about my answer. I could tell she was tired and a bit grumpy that morning.

"Callie, are you coming with us, or should I come back for you?"

Ari had a confused look on her face as Callie explained we needed to swing by the hospital to get a few things done that morning. We promised we'd be home by mid-day to spend time together that late afternoon and evening as a family.

With that, Sophia, Callie and myself headed to drop off our daughter. 

We took turns kissing Soph goodbye and wishing her a good day at school. She nodded, but looked pained this morning about being there. I know that feeling all too well when I get to work some mornings. Right before she closed her door, I said, "Sophia?"

She had just closed her car door, but stopped to look at me on the passenger's side while I rolled down the window. "How do you feel about having pizza tonight and a girl's night with your Aunt and us? We can eat and watch TV, while we are wearing our pajamas. What do you think?"

We both saw our little girl's face light up as she asked, "Can we have cheeseburgers, milkshakes and fries instead?"

"I think that can be arranged too Bug, if that's what you want. Do you want us to make the food or buy it?"

"I want to get them from our normal place." I assumed she meant Dick's Drive-In that had a location on Queen Anne.

"I think that can be arranged! Now, go have a great day at school and remember, you have a fun night ahead of you, okay?"

"Ok Mama," Sophia leaned in and kissed my cheek. "I love you Moms, see you later, 'gators!"

Callie replied, "After a while, our little crocodile!"

I had rolled up my passenger's window as we watched our daughter safely walk in to her school that morning, just before I spoke to my wife.

"Callie, she's getting so big and so fast! It makes me miss moments like when she was learning to walk or talk."