Jolene stood by the kitchen counter, her hands deftly preparing breakfast. Her eyes, though tired, sparkled with determination. Tatum, the eldest, entered the room, her hair still tousled from sleep. Tyler, the middle child, followed with a sleepy grin, while Mia, the youngest, clung to her favorite stuffed toy.
"Good morning, my loves," Jolene greeted, her voice warm and inviting. "Morning, Mom," Tatum replied, reaching for a slice of toast. "What's the plan for today?" Tyler asked, his eyes bright with curiosity.
Tatum and Tyler navigated through the bustling crowd, feeling the weight of curious eyes on them. Mia trailed behind, clutching her backpack tightly. "Ignore them," Tyler whispered, sensing Tatum's unease. "I know. It's just... sometimes it gets to me," Tatum admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Let's just focus on us," Mia chirped, her optimism shining through despite her young age.
Tatum skipped stones across the water, her mind lost in thought. Tyler lay on the grass, watching clouds drift lazily by. Mia collected daisies, weaving them into a crown. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like... with a dad?" Tatum asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Sometimes," Tyler admitted, "but Mom does everything she can for us. She's amazing." "Yeah! And she makes the best cookies," Mia added with a giggle.
Jolene settled on the couch, her children snuggled close. "How was your day?" She asked, her voice soothing. "It was good," Tatum replied, leaning against Jolene's shoulder.
"We went to the lake," Tyler shared. "And I made this for you," Mia said, placing the daisy crown on Jolene's head. "It's beautiful, Mia. Thank you," Jolene beamed, wrapping her arms around them.
Jolene sat by the window, a cup of tea in her hands. She watched her children sleep, their faces serene and content. "We may not have everything," She whispered softly to herself, "but we have each other, and that's more than enough."
With a gentle smile, Jolene turned off the lights, her heart full of love and gratitude for the family she had built.
