Braelyn’s P.O.V.

“Did you enjoy seeing the Easter bunny?” I ask Phoenix as we make chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. I’m hoping I can get her to tell me what she asked him for so I can try to get it for her Easter basket.

“Yes. I can’t wait until Easter because I know he’s going to give me what I asked for.” She begins humming Here Comes Peter Cottontail and I know I’d better drop it for now. I’ll have to get creative on getting her to tell me what she asked for.

As we eat our dinner, I think about the man who told us about the Easter egg hunt tomorrow. When I saw how close he was walking to us, I thought he was trying to pickpocket me or take Phoenix. He seemed like he wanted to tell me something, but I couldn’t imagine what it would be. I don’t think I’ve ever met him before. I don’t go anywhere other than work, Phoenix’s preschool, or the grocery store.

“Mommy, can you find one of my baskets to take to the Easter egg hunt tomorrow?” Phoenix asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Yes, we’ll look for one as soon as we’re done eating.” I took today off work so I could take her to see the Easter bunny, and I’m off the weekend, so I’m glad that man told us about the Easter egg hunt tomorrow. I try to do as much with Phoenix as I can when I’m off.

After dinner, we go outside to our small storage closet on the deck, and I find her basket from last year. I clean it, and we put it on the table to prepare for tomorrow.

A few hours later, Phoenix is sound asleep beside me in the bed we share, but I can’t go to sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see the man from the parking lot. Why is he stuck in my head? Maybe it’s because our little conversation is the most I’ve talked to a man since Cole. My focus for the past five years has been my daughter. I haven’t even let myself think about being with a man, and I’m not thinking about it now. I turn over and finally fall asleep a little while later.

“Mommy.” I open my eyes, and Phoenix is kneeling beside me, smiling.

“Good morning, sweetheart.” I pull her into my arms and cover us up with the blanket.

“What time do we need to leave for the Easter egg hunt?” she asks. I look at my watch, and it’s only seven.

“We’ll leave at nine so we can get there early to find your age group.” I kiss her forehead before she jumps out of bed and runs to the closet.

“I need to wear a pretty dress,” she says as she opens our closet. I guess snuggling time is over. I get up and make our bed. I wouldn’t have minded staying in bed a little longer, but once Phoenix is on the go, it’s pointless.

“What dress do you want to wear?” I ask her as I make a cup of coffee. She pulls out a pale pink dress that was too big for her when I bought it, but it should fit her now.

“How about this one?” she asks.

“I think it’s perfect.” I make us pancakes for breakfast, and then Phoenix insists that we need to get ready to go. I pull part of her hair back with a pink bow in an attempt to control her curls. Her dress fits perfectly, and she puts on her white sandals. It’s warm out today, but I take her white sweater in case she gets cool.

“How about we walk to the park?” I ask her, hoping to kill some time because it’s only eight thirty.

“Yeah, let’s walk,” she says as she begins skipping in front of me with her basket. She looks so cute and carefree I can’t help smiling as I watch her. It takes us about twenty minutes to get to the park, and they look like they’re almost done setting up.

“Mommy, look at all the eggs,” she says, pointing to an area roped off for kids aged 2 and under.

“Wow, there are so many,” I say as Phoenix giggles excitedly.

“I’m glad you made it.” I spin around when I hear a familiar voice. It’s the man from the shopping mall parking lot.

“You remember us?” Phoenix asks him. He smiles and squats down in front of her.

“How could I forget two beautiful ladies like you and your mommy?” he says, making her giggle.

“What’s your name?” she asks him.

“Nash,” he replies. Phoenix looks up at me, and I nod. I have always told her to never talk to strangers or give them her name. So she always checks to make sure it’s okay before she tells them.

“My name is Phoenix,” she says.

“Wow, that’s a really cool name. What’s your name?” he asks, looking up at me.

“Uh, Braelyn.” I don’t usually tell strangers my name either because it suggests an intimacy that I’m not comfortable with. Nash stands and holds his hand out to me.

“It’s nice to meet you. How old are you, Phoenix?” he asks after releasing my hand.

“I just turned five,” she says.

“Okay, then I’ll show you where your section is for the Easter egg hunt.” She walks beside him while I follow them.

“Do you like my basket?” she asks Nash.

“I love your basket, and it’s big too, so you should be able to fit lots of eggs in it.” She giggles and starts skipping. Ever since she learned to skip, I think she skips more than she walks.

“This is where you’ll get your eggs. They will blow a really loud horn, and that’s when you can go under the rope and get as many eggs as you can until they are all gone. Then comes the fun part. You will open all of your eggs and look for ones that have a little paper with a number in them so you can go to the prize tent.” He points to a large tent full of toys. Both mine and Phoenix’s mouths fall open. There are bikes, Barbies, and things I could never afford for her.

“Are those donated?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies after hesitating. I look at him, and he smiles.

“By who?” Why is he acting like he doesn’t want to tell me?

“Some are from the volunteers. The rest are from me.” I glance around and notice it’s getting crowded with kids lining up around the rope as we’re pushed closer together.

“You donated them? Why?” I ask. There has to be a reason. No one is that generous.

“I want the kids to have things they like and not junk that will fall apart before they get them home. When my mom would bring me here as a kid, the prizes were cheap and flimsy.” I shake my head and look at the prize tent again.

“That is so much. I’m sure the kids love them. We won’t keep you. I’m sure you have something you need to do.” I don’t feel comfortable talking to him anymore. He obviously has a lot of money if he could spend thousands on toys, and I am broke. We definitely don’t socialize in the same circles.

“Nope, the only thing I need to do is stand right here. Are you trying to get rid of me?” Nash asks. I look at Phoenix, and she’s smiling as she watches us.

“Mommy doesn’t have boyfriends. Do you want to be her boyfriend?” I can’t believe she said that. I cover my red face with my hands. There is no way I can look at him. Can the ground just open up and swallow me now?