I stayed in the doorway hugging both of them for longer than was strictly necessary, which I decided was fine because I had earned it.
When I finally let go I looked up at both their faces and found them doing the confused expression that adults did when they didn't have enough information, which was most of the time in my experience… yes I'm smart smart… I sniff.
I pouted. "Don't leave me again without telling me. Okay?"
Hon patted my head. "Yeah. We won't. Of course we won't."
"Promise?"
They both nodded.
Good. I nodded to myself, filed it under confirmed, and moved on.
The day went well after that. Their bags turned out to be full of things I hadn't seen before— snacks in wrappers with different writing on them, drinks in small cans that fizzed, some dried fruit that I didn't think I'd like and then ate most of by myself.
I liked it all so much. I didn't say this out loud because I had a reputation to maintain, but I thought it very sincerely.
