”Daddy, can you tell me about the time you and Mommy met?” I ran my hand under my chin contemplating where to begin the story of how my love affair with the lady of my life came into existence.
”If I tell you, will you promise me that you’ll go to bed,” I inquired of the tiny toddler. She shook her head signaling yes. I heaved a sigh and began recalling our meeting to my daughter.
It was my third year of college and I had the biggest exam of my life in six hours. It was a math test of course. It just had to be math. As I sat in the dimly lit booth of the cafe,studying for my life, a hot, steamy cappuccino was set beside me. I didn’t dare look up from my textbook to see who had placed to calescent demitasse before me. It wasn’t until a light, floaty, warm voice said to me, “It’s on the house,” that I broke my reddened eyes away from the large book.
She stood before me looking like an angelic being. The way the dim overhead light hit her skin made her look like she was emanating a golden glow. Her brown, luxurious hair was pulled up into a messy bun. He apron was stained with what seemed to be her day’s trouble at work. Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at my worried face. Her full lips were covered in a light layer of nude colored gloss. If I had to sum up how she looked, beautiful wouldn’t be the word. She was more than that.
I was broken from my trance when she said to me, ” It looks like you could use some help.” I gave her a look as to say ‘do I!’ and motioned for her to sit down next to me. We were the only ones in the cafe, and because the frequented coffee house was on a college campus, it stayed open twenty- four- seven. We were free to study as long as I needed and speak as openly as we needed. She took my text book and giggled. I was taken aback by this.
” This material really isn’t as complicated as it looks.I’ll tell you what, tell me most of what your professor said, and I’ll simplify it for you.”
We only spent an hour studying, and I felt more than prepared for my test. I thanked her for her service and the coffee. As she got up to walk away, I called out to her.
”Wait,” I exclaimed, “my name is Princeton, Prince for short, and I would really like to get to know you.” She flashed me and smile and wrote her number down on my hand with a sharpie. Long story short, we fell in love, finished college together, got married, and started a family together. Our life was something like a fairy tale or a Disney movie.
“Daddy, that was so romantic!” I laughed at my baby girl’s remarks. I kissed her forehead gently, and looked at her. She looked just like her mom.
”Daddy,” she began with half closed eyes, “what if mommy was still here?” I felt a sudden heaviness come upon me. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. Then, I said, “If mommy was still here, she’d love both me and you. She’d brush your hair before bed each night, and she would read you a bedtime story until you fell asleep.” I got up from my place on the small bed, I made my way to the door. I was about to turn off the lights, but a question floated over to me.
”Daddy.”
”Yes, my love.”
”Do you think mommy and my little brother are happy in heaven?”
”I know they are. Goodnight Princess.”
