Chapter 303
~Octavia~
Epilogue
Today was the day. Lael was officially starting preschool.
"Hold still for just one more second, sweetie," I murmured, kneeling. I gently smoothed down the front of her tiny, custom navy-blue school uniform, tucked the crisp white collar neatly under the collarbone, and stepped back to look at her.
At just over two and a half years old, our daughter had grown into a walking, talking, fiercely independent little force of nature.
She was practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing up and down on the heels of her tiny light-up sneakers, her hands gripping her little cartoon lunchbox like it was a prized trophy.
"Mommy, look! I have the little dinosaur on my box!" Lael chirped, her voice a sweet, clear melody as she held the lunchbox up to my face. "He has a backpack too. Like me!"
"He sure does, my brave girl," I laughed, reaching out to gently pinch her soft, rosy cheek. "You are going to make so many friends today."
