The First Day of Pre-School

Lux had been with Liz and Mark for several months. They felt like she was their own daughter.

So much so that Liz found herself acting like the stereotypical mother who couldn't let go when she dropped Lux off for her first day of pre-school.

Lux held Liz's hand as they approached the door to the school. "Are you gonna stay?" Lux asked hopefully.

"No Sweetie. School is for kids only. Grown-ups aren't allowed to stay," Liz explained. She wanted to stay and had already checked. The school did not allow parents to stay.

Lux frowned slightly. "You're gonna leave me here by myself?"

"You're not gonna be by yourself. Your teacher is gonna be there if you need anything and there will be lots of other kids for you to play with," Liz said reassuringly.

"Are you gonna come back?" Lux asked doubtfully, her eyes filling with tears.

"Of course I'm gonna come back," Liz said.

"My mommy left me at the hospital and never came back," Lux said, clinging desperately Liz's hand.

Liz sighed. "I know, but I'm not gonna do that. I promise. Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

Lux shook her head furiously.

Liz had tears in her eyes as she handed Lux off to her teacher, Mrs. Peterson. She lingered in the hallway, watching Lux. Lux hesitated, but eventually started playing with the other kids. Liz breathed a sigh of relief.

Lux ran to Liz when she saw her waiting to pick her up.

"I played on the playground and colored. Look!" Lux held up a drawing of herself, Liz and Mark.

Liz smiled. "That is very good, Lux."

Lux chattered away as they walked to Liz's car, listing the names of her new friends.

Liz buckled Lux into her car seat. Lux grew unusually quiet as they drove home.

Liz glanced in the backseat. Lux looked like she was deep in thought. "Lux, what are you thinking?"

"Nothing," Lux said, looking down.

Liz frowned. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Lux looked up. She bit her lip thoughtfully. "Liz, can I call you Mommy?"

Liz smiled. "I would love for you to call me Mommy. Do you want to call Mark Daddy too?"

Lux nodded happily. "'Cause all of the other kids were talking about their mommies and daddies. I'm the only one who doesn't have a mommy and daddy." She frowned. "Why did my real mommy and daddy leave me?"

Liz swallowed. "They couldn't take care of you and they wanted you to be with someone who could."

"You can," Lux said confidently.

"Yes Sweetie, Mark and I can take care of you," Liz agreed.

"Forever?" Lux asked.

Liz smiled. "And ever."

Lux giggled.

When they got home, the toddler ran to Mark and climbed into his lap. "Look Daddy!"

Mark looked at Liz in surprise. Lux had never called him that before. It felt good to hear. He thought of Lux as his daughter. He always had.

Liz smiled slightly and shrugged.

"Daddy!" Lux pulled at his arm, annoyed that he wasn't paying attention to her.

"What's this?" Mark asked, taking the drawing Lux was trying to show him. "This is very good. I bet you were the best artist in your class."

Lux smiled proudly.

Lux's 8th Birthday

Liz shook Lux awake gently.

Lux stifled a yawn as she sat up in her bed.

Liz smiled. "Happy birthday."

"I'm eight," Lux said proudly.

Liz laughed. "I know."

Lux hesitated. "Mom?"

"Yeah?" Liz said.

"I'm old enough to know the truth about why my birth parents didn't want me," Lux said, staring at Liz intently.

"I told you-"

"You told me they couldn't take care of me. You never told me why," Lux interrupted.

Liz sighed. "Fair enough. You know what my job is?"

Lux nodded. "You help sick kids."

"That's right," Liz said. "Your birth mom was one of the kids I helped. She was really young when she had you. Too young to take care of you."

Lux frowned. "Then how did she have a kid? You're supposed to get married and then have kids."

"You are supposed to, but not everyone does what they're supposed to," Liz said.

"Was my birth dad young, too?" Lux asked.

"I never met your dad," Liz said truthfully.

Lux scrunched her face up. "Why not?"

"I just didn't," Liz said.

Lux thought for a moment. "Mom?"

"Yeah?" Liz said.

"You took me, but what happens to most kids when their parents can't take care of them?" Lux said.

"There are lots of grown-ups who can't have kids, but really want kids. They adopt kids whose parents can't take care of them. Just like Dad and I adopted you," Liz explained.

"But you didn't adopt me until I was almost three," Lux pointed out. "What if no one adopts them?"

"Then they live in group homes until someone adopts them," Liz said sadly.

Lux made a face. "I wouldn't want to live in a group home."

Liz stroked Lux's hair back from her face. "I wouldn't either," she said softly.

"I'm glad you adopted me," Lux said, leaning her head against Liz's shoulder.

"Me too." Liz kissed the top of Lux's head. "I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast."

Lux's eyes lit up. She loved cinnamon rolls. "Thank you!"

Liz laughed. "You're welcome."

"Happy birthday!" Mark said when Lux and Liz emerged from Lux's bedroom.

"Thanks!" Lux said.

"Do you want help?" Liz asked as Lux began serving herself.

"No. I can do it," Lux said.

Liz watched as a large glob of frosting landed on the kitchen counter. "Here. Let me help you," Liz said.

"I can do it by myself," Lux whined.

Liz sighed. When Lux finished serving herself, Liz cleaned the messy kitchen counter with disinfectant. Somehow Lux had managed to get sticky frosting and cinnamon everywhere.

"I get to takes treats to school for my birthday," Lux told Mark.

"Don't chew with your mouth full," Mark warned.

Lux swallowed a bite of cinnamon roll before adding, "We got a cookie bouquet."

"What? You're supposed to have cake on your birthday," Mark teased.

Lux laughed. "I am Silly. At my birthday party."

"What kind of birthday party are you having this year?" Mark asked.

"Little Mermaid. We're going to the pool and Arielle is coming," Lux said excitedly.

Mark looked at Liz quizzically.

Liz nodded. "She is. Lux, finish your breakfast and go brush your teeth. We need to leave for school."

Lux finished her cinnamon roll and hurried to the bathroom. Liz washed Lux's plate.

"Arielle is coming?" Mark asked.

Liz rolled her eyes. "An actress dressed like Arielle is coming."

"How much is that costing me?" Mark asked.

"It's her birthday," Liz reminded Mark.

Mark kissed Liz.

"Gross!"

Mark ended the kiss when they heard Lux. He laughed, grabbing the eight-year old and kissing her loudly.

Lux giggled, squirming around in Mark's arms.

"Kiss Dad goodbye," Liz instructed as she grabbed the cookie bouquet and her car keys.

Lux kissed Mark and grabbed her backpack.

Liz dropped Lux off in front of her elementary school. "Be careful with the cookie bouquet. Hold it with both hands, OK?"

"OK," Lux replied.

"Have a good day!" Liz called as Lux walked toward the school building.