Bikeriders Serenade

A Day To Remember

**At the Beginning of the Day**

Austin woke up with a sense of anticipation humming in his chest. Today wasn’t just any day—it was a day he’d carved out just for Lori and Mia, free from the demands of work. As he lay in bed, watching the early morning light creep through the curtains, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of spending uninterrupted time with his girls. *I really want to make today special for Lori and Mia,* he mused, feeling the weight of how quickly they were growing up. *They’re growing up so fast, and I don’t want to miss a single moment.*

Turning over, Austin gently shook Lucy awake, his voice soft but excited. “I’ve been looking forward to spending this day with the girls,” he said, a grin spreading across his face. “It’s not every day I get to take a break from everything else and just be ‘Dad’ for a while.”

Lucy smiled, seeing the joy in his eyes. She knew how much these moments meant to him.

Meanwhile, down the hall, Lori was already awake, her mind buzzing with excitement. She loved days like this when her daddy was all hers. *Daddy seems really excited today,* she thought, her heart swelling with happiness. *I love when he spends time with us. Maybe we can do something extra fun!*

**Preparing the Picnic**

The kitchen was filled with the comforting aroma of fresh bread as Austin and Lori worked together to prepare the picnic. Austin spread peanut butter on a slice of bread, handing it to Lori, who eagerly added the jelly. “You know,” he began, watching her carefully align the slices, “I used to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with my mom when I was your age. It was our little tradition. Maybe one day, you’ll make them with your kids, too.”

Lori looked up at him, her eyes wide with admiration. *I love making sandwiches with Daddy,* she thought, feeling a sense of pride in being part of this special activity. *I hope we do this forever. Maybe one day I’ll tell my kids about it, just like he does.*

As they finished packing up, Austin couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of contentment. *It’s funny how the simplest things—like making sandwiches with Lori—feel like the most important moments in the world,* he reflected, a smile tugging at his lips. *This is what life’s all about.*

**The Walk to the Park**

The sun was warm on their backs as Austin, Lori, and Mia strolled to the park, the sounds of the neighborhood filling the air around them. Lori skipped ahead, holding Mia’s hand, while Austin followed closely behind, his heart full. *There’s something about walking with my girls that just feels right,* he thought, watching them laugh together. *It’s like everything else fades away, and all that matters is this moment.*

As they approached the park, Lori turned to him, her face lit up with excitement. “Can we always have days like this, Daddy?” she asked, her voice filled with hope.

Austin smiled warmly at her. “As long as I’m around, sweetheart, we sure will,” he promised, feeling a deep sense of responsibility and love for his daughters. *I wonder what kind of stories we’ll tell when you’re all grown up,* he thought, imagining a future filled with cherished memories. *Will you remember days like this?*

Lori’s thoughts mirrored his own. *I hope we have lots of stories,* she mused, looking up at him with bright eyes. *I’ll remember all of them, Daddy. I promise.*

**At the Park**

At the park, Austin found a bench where he could keep a close eye on Lori and Mia as they played. He watched Lori climb to the top of the jungle gym, her small figure silhouetted against the clear blue sky. *I wish time could just slow down,* he thought, feeling a pang of bittersweet emotion. *They’re still so little, but I know that won’t last forever. I want to hold onto this moment as long as I can.*

Lori, reaching the top, turned and waved down at her father, her face beaming with pride. “Daddy, look! I’m all the way up here! Are you watching?”

“I see you, Lori!” Austin called back, his voice full of encouragement. “You’re amazing! Be careful, okay?”

*I like it when Daddy watches me play,* Lori thought, her chest swelling with pride as she carefully made her way down. *I want to show him I can climb really high!*

As Austin watched her descend, he couldn’t help but think about how much she had grown. “You’re going to be a heartbreaker one day, Lori,” he murmured to himself, a soft smile on his lips. “Just like your mom.”

**Storytime**

Later, as they sat on the blanket under the shade of a large tree, Austin began to tell one of his favorite childhood stories. Lori listened intently, her eyes wide with wonder. *Telling them stories feels like passing on a little bit of myself,* Austin thought, watching their faces light up with each twist and turn of the tale. *I hope they’ll remember these tales and know how much they mean to me.*

When he finished, Lori snuggled closer to him, her voice soft but full of determination. “Will you tell me a story every night, Daddy? Even when I’m big?”

Austin’s heart swelled with love as he looked down at her. “Always, Lori,” he promised, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll always be here to tell you a story.”

*I love Daddy’s stories,* Lori thought, feeling safe and loved in his arms. *I never want him to stop telling them, even when I’m all grown up.*

**Heading Home**

As the day drew to a close and they began their walk home, Austin couldn’t help but reflect on the day. *I’m going to remember this day forever,* he thought, holding Lori’s hand in his. *These are the moments that make everything else seem small—just being here with them, watching them grow, knowing they’re happy.*

Lori, tired but content, looked up at her father with sleepy eyes. “Today was the best day ever, Daddy,” she whispered, her voice filled with the simple joy only a child can express.

Austin smiled down at her, his heart full. “I’m proud of you, you know that?” he said, squeezing her hand gently. “You’re such a great big sister to Mia, and I love seeing how you take care of her.”

Lori beamed, her father’s words filling her with pride. *It makes me feel so good when Daddy says he’s proud of me,* she thought, determined to always be the best big sister she could be. *I want to be just like you when I grow up, Daddy.*

“And you know what?” Austin said, as if reading her thoughts. “You’re already well on your way.”

**Back at Home**

When they finally arrived home, the house was quiet and peaceful. Austin carried Mia, who had fallen asleep in his arms, while Lori trailed behind, her hand still clutching his. As they settled the girls into bed, Austin felt a deep sense of contentment wash over him. *I could get used to days like this,* he thought, as he watched Lori drift off to sleep. *Coming home after a day of fun, seeing the smiles on their faces… it doesn’t get better than this.*

Later, as he joined Lucy on the couch, he couldn’t help but share his thoughts with her. “Today reminded me of why I do everything I do,” he said quietly, wrapping an arm around her. “They’re everything to me, Lucy. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

In the other room, Lori was already drifting into sleep, her last thought before falling into a dream-filled slumber being, *I’m so happy today. I wish every day could be like this.*