It was the day that Perry was dreading, Kassi's first day of school.
Much to everyone's surprise, Della was taking all of this in stride. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she was an older sister and she used to call her little sister "her baby."
"Perry, she'll be fine. We both know school's the best thing for her. She needs to make friends and get an education."
Perry nodded as they looked into Kassi's room to see their daughter sleeping soundly.
It was the night before and Kassi was more than ready to go to sleep – excited to meet her classmates the next day.
That next morning went smoothly, which was a blessing to both parents, as Kassi was eager to get out the door as Della chuckled and whispered to Perry,
"I think I know where our daughter got her "Miss Independence" streak from."
Perry chuckled and hugged Della,
"You."
Della smiled,
"Yes, 100% from me. I hope she's not too much of a handful for her teachers."
Once they got into the car and on the way to Kassi's school, the parents couldn't help but chuckle at Kassi's excited chattering.
As they pulled up and Perry lifted Kassi from her car seat,
"Be a good girl for Mama and I, OK?"
Perry asked as Kassi nodded giving her Daddy the biggest hug a 5 – year – old could as Della smiled, trying not to cry.
Once Della and Kassi said their goodbyes and Della walked Kassi into the schoolyard, much to her parent's surprise, Kassi ran to the nearest group of kids and began to play with them after a final wave to them.
"Huh, I wonder where she got that from."
Della said after they got into the car as Perry looked at her,
"The sociable personality? I don't know. I'm just as surprised as you."
"Perry, please focus. You know that Kassi is in the best place she could be at the moment."
Della insisted a few hours later, as she could tell that Perry's focus was going from his work to Kassi. Della knew him well enough that he couldn't hide whenever he was thinking/worrying about their daughter.
Perry sighed and smiled sheepishly,
"I'm happy that she went straight to playing with the other children but it still bothered me sending her to school where we, or more so where I, don't have eyes on her for the majority of the day."
"Oh, Perry. You knew that she would have to go to school one day."
Della said with a gentle smile as Perry kissed her temple softly,
"I just wish it wasn't this soon. I miss when she was a baby."
"I know, darling. Now, back to work. I've got an hour before I need to leave."
Della smiled and when she went to pick Kassi up from school,
"Oh, Mrs. Mason. Kassandra was an absolute joy to have in class. We didn't have to tell her twice to do anything. She was willing to help and I think she and Charlene Anderson are going to be very good friends."
Della looked at Kassi and Charlene as they played happily as she smiled and called,
"Kassi."
Kassi looked up and smiled as Charlene and she ran to Della,
"Mama! This is Charlene, my new friend!"
Della smiled and when they said their 'goodbyes' and got into the car,
"I'm glad to hear that your first day was a good one. I'm proud of you for stepping up and helping your teachers today."
Kassi laughed and when they walked into suite 904,
"Daddy!"
Perry smiled as Kassi ran into his arms as he picked her up as she kissed his cheek as Della smiled,
"Kassi was a model student today, helping her teachers and she's made a new friend. Charlene Anderson."
Perry smiled and hugged Kassi and Della as they closed up the office early to have a wonderful evening at home as he felt blessed to have the family he always wanted.