The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 181

I randomly pointed to words, and Willow, with both little hands clasped behind her back, answered quickly and confidently. After going through everything we had learned today, I realized she had mastered all the words she needed to learn the spelling of in just one day. Looking for praise, Willow snuggled into my arms. "How did I do, Mommy? Did I get anything wrong?"

"Not a single one!" I praised her wholeheartedly. "You got everything right, Willow!"

Willow blinked. Her face lit up in surprise. "Am I really that good?"

I cupped her cheeks in my hand and gently squeezed. "Yes, you are!"

She smiled shyly, then grabbed her book and nestled back into my lap. "Then, let me see if I can read them out."

I watched her intently. "Go for it."

Willow leaned over the table, her chubby little finger pointing to each letter as she enunciated them. After spelling out the word, she read it out loud.

Worried she might have pronounced it wrongly, she looked back at me and asked, "Is that right, Mommy?"

I nodded and answered with absolute certainty, "Yeap!"

didn't expect to get everything correct, and she beamed with pride, feeling

she looked, my

She wasn't perfect and had her own little quirks, but she was trying her best

And that was enough.

...

reading the letters and

noticed her voice growing hoarse, yet she kept flipping through the pages. I reached out

up at me in confusion.

keep reading out loud like this, you'll wear out your voice," I explained softly. "Your health

heard this, she slid the book

gets stronger, my mood gets better, too. And I've

added with a shy smile, "It's just

reached out and gently tapped her nose. "At this rate, it won't be

cupped her face in her hands, her eyes sparkling. "When that happens, I'll have lots of kids coming up to me and

that, she couldn't help

said, "I really hope that day

"Me, too," Willow agreed.

...