Us. | A Joe Jonas FanFiction | Book 3

fifty two

"Okay, so we've officially decided then?" Joe asks.

"I mean honestly, I'm not sure what else she would be for Halloween. We've got to hurry and get the stuff though; we have two days."

He chuckles, nodding. "Don't worry, I'm on it."

"Okay," I huff out a breath, looking around the kitchen as I try to figure out where to start.

"What can I do?" Joe asks, watching the gears in my head turning.

I sigh. "I don't even know. I need to do the laundry, I need to go through the kitchen and make a list of food that we need to get for the next month, I need to go through Willa's closet and figure out what doesn't fit her anymore, which speaking of, are we wanting to keep some of those clothes in case we have another girl at some point or do we want to donate them?"

He raises his eyebrows. "Okay, one thing at a time. To answer your question, save your favorites, donate the rest. Secondly, would it help if I start something for you or would you rather me just grab Willa and take care of her for a bit while you try to get some stuff done?"

A sigh of relief escapes as I look over at him. "Babe, that would be amazing. Plus, I'm sure she could use some one-on-one time with her daddy."

He grins, leaning over and kissing my cheek. "You've got it. Are you okay if I take her out?"

I nod. "Of course, you're her dad, babe."

He smiles, kissing my temple this time before walking away as I look around the kitchen, grabbing a notepad and making a list of the things I need to do.

To Do:

1. Unpack Bags

2. Laundry

3. Go through Willa's clothes

4. Go through the kitchen & make a grocery list

5. Halloween plans?

6. Thanksgiving plans?

7. Christmas plans?

Once the list is written, I decide to do everything in the order it's written, climbing the stairs, making my way into Willa's room, grabbing her small suitcase, and taking it into the master bedroom where Joe and I have ours, emptying all three and putting them into the laundry baskets. After starting the first load, I make my way back to Willa's room, sighing as I open her closet, glancing down the line at the clothing that looks so small now.

I sigh, reaching out to grab the first small outfit, the fabric clutched in my hand as I remember the day she wore it, only two months old for a small family gathering as all of the Jonas family was in town for once. Reaching for the next outfit which reminds me of yet another memory, this fabric being one of the softest, the outfit she wore for her first photos after she was born. I hold it close to my chest.

I remember when she was small enough to fit into this, regardless of my mind being nowhere near a mother's mindset, she was still the best thing I had done thus far. She still is, I think. Oh, and this one, her outfit for her first Christmas... the day that everything changed. The day that my life as a mother finally clicked.

Tears sting my eyes as I remember the moment, once again. Not only was it the day that I finally made the connection with my daughter I had never wanted and longed for all at once, but it was also the day Joe and I were able to make amends after arguing for so long.

The tears continue to fall as I continue to move through each outfit, each article of clothing, finishing the closet and moving on the dresser, moving through that as well, and eventually ending with my eyes red and sore while a pile of clothes lay on the floor, representing my daughter's life until this point. Reminding me that she's not so little anymore. She's a toddler, now. She's not this little fragile thing that I have to hold onto every second of the day. I didn't think realizing it would hurt this much.