You step into your home, the familiar scent of your daughter’s toys and the soft glow of afternoon light filling the space, but an unsettling silence greets you. A knot of anxiety tightens in your stomach as you realize you’re alone. Glancing around, you pull out your phone and quickly type a message to Blaise:

“Blaise, where are you? Is Hallie with you? Is she okay?”

You hit send and pace the room, your heart racing as you wait for a response. After a moment, the typing indicator pops up, and a wave of relief washes over you.

“Sorry, ma, I forgot to mention we went to the zoo today.”

Your heart settles, but curiosity piques as he follows up with a photo. You smile at the sight of Hallie captivated by a group of penguins swimming in their enclosure. The joy in her face is infectious, and you can’t help but laugh at the thought of her wide-eyed wonder.

"She fell in love with the penguins 🐧. Do you think maybe I could just borrow one for her?"

You chuckle softly, shaking your head at Blaise's penchant for chaos.

“She wouldn’t mind, but no, please don’t,” you reply, imagining the trouble he could cause with a borrowed penguin.

Blaise’s playful energy is one of the reasons you’ve grown so fond of him. You trust him with Hallie, knowing he brings a lightness to both your lives.

"You're no fun 😒" he texts back, and you can’t help but roll your eyes at his response.