THIRTY SIX

I went upstairs and stopped to hear voices coming from the room. There was a crack as I pushed it open to find Persephone reading to the little ones. She has little Sophia on her lap while James and Ramsey are on their baby rocker. Leo and Chris quietly play on their Nintendo Switch with headphones on, sitting on bean bags.

"Poppy."

My daughter looks up as her hazel eyes sparkle. "Mommy, look, I'm teaching Sophia and the boys words. Though the boys are still young, Sophia told me her first word."

Feeling proud in her eyes, I crouched down and sat on my legs. I reach and brush her hair. "You must be an excellent teacher."

"I could be a teacher," she giggles.

I cannot help but smile at how bright and kind my daughter is. Since she learned the truth about me and her birth, I still feel the guilt gnawing inside. Persephone would have been better off with a family who would love her as much as I did, but she chose to accept me. It's a good thing she didn't witness what had happened do