"My jacket! It's in Daddy's car!"
I'd met Josephine's mom.
David had come home early and was taking a quick nap.
"Here, honey." I handed Ava her dad's car keys. "Run to the garage, grab it, and come right back. I'm just quickly finishing up and getting ready." I opened the garage door from the inside.
She was gone for maybe three minutes. When she skipped back inside, jacket over her arm, she looked completely normal. Cheerful, even. Of course, I didn't think anything of it.
I handed Ava her dad's car keys.
"Ready?" I asked as I pressed the button to close the garage.
"Ready!"
I dropped her off at her new friend's house and picked her up a few hours later. Ava had such a great time that she was completely exhausted! She was so tired that she fell asleep during dinner, her face nearly in her mashed potatoes!
David carried her to bed with a smile on his face. We were both so happy that our daughter had made a friend she liked.
But nothing could've prepared me for the next day.
