"Here we are," Dez said as the Wade SUV pulled up to Barrett Elementary School. "Are you ready to go to kindergarten, princess?"

"Yes, daddy," little Essie replied with glee. She had been silent the whole ride, looking eagerly out the window and clinging to her backpack.

"Yeah, you do look ready," Dez replied taking a quick glance over his shoulder at his little girl. "Why didn't you dress her in something more colorful for her first day, Trish? Her red and black checkered skirt, pink rainbow t shirt, and cheetah print toms would have been way better than this."

"Because I don't want her to look like she's a crazy artist doof's daughter?" Trish shot back, looking up from her phone to see the serious expression of disappointment on his face.

"Hey wait a minute...that's exactly what she is." Dez replied as he turned off the car engine and hopped out of his seat.

He walked around the car and through the front doors.

"What's daddy, doing?" Esmeralda wondered out loud. "This is my school. Aren't I supposed to go in? "

Trish had to smile at her daughter's words. It was true. Dez had forgotten Esmeralda—on her first day of school no less. But she wasn't worried—after eight years of marriage, she knew him well enough to know he would be back. Dez was the poster child for the absentminded artist, but he was also quick to fix his mistakes.

Trish chomped on her gum a few times before replying nonchalantly, "Oh, he'll be back in a minute. Don't worry about it."

Just as Trish finished talking, Dez came running out of the school. He ran up to Esmeralda's door, opened it, and helped her out of her booster seat.

"Forgot Esmeralda. I'll be right back," he explained to Trish. The car door closed again and Trish watched the duo walk up to the school.

Dez paused hurriedly before the door and bent down and whispered something in Esmeralda's ear. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before leading her inside. Trish's heart melted seeing her man be so sweet with their little girl. He was the perfect dad even if he was a little bit forgetful.

Within a minute, Dez came back out to the driver's seat. "Well, honey, our little girl's a kindergartener."

"I know, it seems like yesterday I was holding her in my arms for the first time."

"Yeah, before we know it she's going to be a middle schooler with braces and crazy hair," Dez replied his voice starting to tremble. He reached for the tissue box that he knew was right between the two front seats.

"Dez! I don't want to think about that!" Trish scolded gently. "But seriously though, I don't know what I'm going to do without her in the mornings."

Dez's face brightened into a cheery smile again. "I think there's an answer to that. All you have to do is glance at the two little precious troublemakers in the back seat. Alina's in the terrible twos, and if Ollie is as difficult of a toddler as he is a baby…"

"Dezzy, I didn't mean that. I meant without her help. She was getting to be my right hand woman."

"Well, let's get home," Dez said as he started the car engine. "I may not be a woman, but I think I can help you out for today at least. " He turned to Trish and winked.

"Well, doof, I may just take you up on the offer," she said as she took his hand.