#Chapter 23: Flustered

Agnes I tucked Thea into bed, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She clutched her favorite stuffed rabbit to her chest as I settled on the bed beside her. “Mommy, can you read me a story?” she asked. “Of course, sweetheart,” I replied, reaching for the well-worn book of fairy tales that was sitting on the nightstand. Flipping through the pages, I found one of her favorites—a story of a brave princess and a kind prince who overcome all odds to be together. As I began to read, Thea listened intently, her little fingers tracing the illustrations. When I reached the part where the prince rescued the princess from the tower, she sighed dreamily. “Do you think they’ll get married and live happily ever after?” she asked, tilting her head back to look up at me. I smiled softly. “Well, that’s how the story goes, isn’t it?” She nodded, then thought for a moment, tapping her chin. “Will you and Daddy get married like them?” she suddenly asked. My h