How He Broke

Christine (Sage's POV)

Tate and I were at the beach today, the third week of summer break.

I was sitting in the sand next to my mother as I watched Tate splash around in the water with my three year old cousin, Christine.

Christine was visiting us for the next week while my aunt and uncle, my mothers older brother, went on an anniversary trip to Hawaii.

Upon arrival, Tate was completely obsessed with her.

"She's like a mini you!" He smiled when he first met her.

Right away Christine and Tate had become best friends, leaving me to be the "mom" of the pair.

It was actually kind of adorable to see how fatherly Tate could be with her.

She'd been here only three days, but already the pair had become inseparable.

"He's really great with her." My mother stated as we watched the two play in the shallow waters close to shore.

I smiled, watching as Christine splashed Tate. "He really is."

"He'll be a great father one day." My mother said casually, nudging me.

I shook my head with a laugh. "One day he will."

We continued to watch them until Christine came running up to me squealing, Tate chasing after her. I laughed at the sight of her little legs and feet struggled to move through the sand.

"Sae!! Help!" Christine shrieked.

"Sae" Is what she called me. When she was a baby she couldn't fully pronounce "Sage", but even now "Sae" had just kind of stuck with her.

"Oh no!" I stood, picking her up as I laughed, wrapping my arms around her small and dripping wet body as Tate came sneaking up. "It's the tickle monster!"

Tate began tickling my arm as I fake screamed.

"He's infected me!" I yelled as I began tickling her.

She shrieked, erupting in a fit of laughter as she tried to wiggle her way out of my grasp. I set her down after a few more seconds, releasing her back into the world, watching as she ran only a few feet away before plopping down on the sand to build a sandcastle.

"Tate!! Help!" She called for him.

"The princess calls." He smiled, giving me a peck on the lips before jogging over to her.

I smiled, watching the pair begin to build a sandcastle before walking back and taking a seat next to my mother.

"You're going to be a great mother one day." My mother said with a soft smile, causing me to roll my eyes.

~ ~ ~

I stood in the middle of the grocery store, Christine on my hip as I waited for Tate to get us a shopping cart.

"How precious!" An older woman cooed as she approached Christine and I. "How old is she?" She asked.

I smiled, "She's three."

The lady beamed. "She's beautiful."

I nodded in agreement as Christine reached a small hand out to her. The lady obliged, offering her a finger to which Christine held.

"Oh my goodness she's absolutely precious!" The lady cooed, shaking Christine's tiny hand, "And she looks exactly like her mother!"

"Oh no, I'm not her-" I began to protest.

"Hey babe!" Tate greeted, walking behind a shopping cart. "I got a cart for us." He smiled proudly.

"Oh how wonderful!" The lady smiled, "It's so great to see teen parents raising their baby together."

I gave Tate a look, unsure of how to respond.

"Thank you." Tate smiled as I gently placed Christine in the front part of the cart.

The lady beamed at Christine once more before digging into her purse, pulling out a $50 dollar bill and handing it to Tate. "I'm sure it's hard raising a baby at your age, but keep up the hard work young man." The lady smiled. "And make sure to take very good care of those two."

Before Tate or I could protest the woman had vanished.

"What the fu-" Tate stopped himself from swearing, noticing Christine was still in fact present. "What in the world was that?" He corrected himself.

I shrugged. "I have no idea."

We both laughed as I began to push the cart.

~ ~ ~

Today was the last day with Christine and Tate was absolutely devastated.

He had been sulking all day. I watched him play with her on the floor as we waited for my aunt and uncle to arrive.

"I want a baby." Tate pouted at me as Christine sat distracted by a coloring book we had bought her the other day.

"You'll have to wait awhile for that one." I laughed, taking a seat beside him.

He sighed, resting his head on my shoulder as we continued to wait.

The saddest part of the day was when my aunt and uncle had finally arrived to pick Christine up. I carried her out to them as Tate watched sadly from the doorway, waving goodbye to her. He said he didn't want to come out because he'd cry, that it would be too hard to say goodbye to her even though I assured him he'd see her again fairly soon.

Once she had left we sat up in my room cuddling.

"I miss her." Tate sighed sadly.

"She just left, Tate." I giggled.

"I know." He sighed once again.

I rolled my eyes before kissing his cheek. "She'll be back soon. I promise."