Seasons [h.s]

Summer - Part 5

"You're going to be great," I whispered, hoping to soothe my nervous angel.

Mia was trembling in my arms as I walked towards the entrance of the Central Park Zoo. Jared and I have finally set up a day for him and Mia to meet. Surprisingly, Mia wasn't too fond of the idea at first. After years of asking where her father was, she couldn't seem to wrap her mind around the fact that he was finally back from his long "trip."

"I don't think so, Mommy." She said, scrunching up her nose on the night I asked if she'd like to meet him.

"Why not, Lovey? Your daddy is finally back from his trip, and he wants to see you!"

"H-how long will he stay?" She asked timidly.

"What?"

"He left for a long, long time before. Is he gonna leave again?" Her words left a stinging sensation.

"...I don't know, baby. I don't think he has anymore trips planned."

"Neither did H-Harry," Mia sighed, her face falling into a frown.

My heart ached. "This is different, okay? Your dad came back here just to see you."

"He did?" Her eyes grew in astonishment.

I nodded. "And if you still don't feel comfortable after meeting him then we don't have to do it again for a long time. Let's just see how this one goes, okay?"

"Alright, Mommy," Mia nodded slowly. "But... y-you won't leave me, right?"

I had an inkling that she didn't just mean during the visit with her father. I could feel tears filling the brims of my eyes as I said, "no baby, I will never, ever, leave you. Ever, okay?" I scooped her chin with my fingers. She replied with a soft nod.

**

After paying for our tickets for the zoo, I set Mia down and led her to one of the few open benches close to the first exhibit. It was a hot day in New York, and I was so thankful for the greenery-covered gazebo above us. Since entering my second trimester of pregnancy, I had been experiencing more dizzy spells and fatigue. I hoped that the hot sun wouldn't spoil my day with my daughter.

Mia took a seat next to me and laid her head against my arm; I could feel her little body continue to quiver. I had to admit that I was a bit nervous too - I felt like I was bringing to very separate parts of my world and fusing them. I knew Mia would have to meet her dad one day, but I always imagined that she'd be sixteen, and I would have no choice but to let her. Yet, here we were, my almost-four-year-old angel about to meet her father for the first time. I knew that she was terrified, so I had to be as energetic and optimistic as I could for her.

"Your dad texted a little while ago and said he was almost here. I'll text him and tell him where we're sitting." I pulled out my phone and noticed that I had missed a call from him. "Oh, he must be here." I quickly redialed the number.

"Hey, I just left the ticket kiosk. Where are you?" I could hear the anticipation in his voice.

"Hi, we're sitting at the bench near the Tropical Zone."

"Okay, oh wait, I see you." I saw his familiar slender figure a few feet away, waving. He wore a white t-shirt, khaki shorts, and a pair of brown sandals. I waved back, "look, Mia, there he is, there's your dad." Her eyes quickly shot to the direction I was waving. She followed me as I stood to greet him.

"Hey," Jared smiled once he made it to over us. He hugged me and greeted my unborn baby with a soft rub of my stomach, which took me by surprise, but his interaction with Mia was what really shocked me. "Hi," he held out his hand for her, bending down to meet her eyes. "I'm your dad."