Of all the things Alex could be missing right now, he decided to not be in the house when today was our daughter’s first day of kindergarten. He was there for our son’s first day, but now he was missing for our daughter’s.
“Mommy, is Daddy meeting us at school,” our daughter, Bethany, asked.
“I hope he is. He was there for Tommy,” I told her.
Alex was just finishing tour a couple nights ago and he made a promise to the kids to be here for their first day of school. He never called me to let me know he was going to be late or anything. I was really concerned.
My concerns escalated when my phone started ringing with Alex’s ringtone. I answered quickly so I would miss his call.
“Alex, you better explain why you weren’t home this morning,” you answered quietly so Bethany and Tom didn’t hear you.
“My flight was delayed. I just landed. I’m about to head to the school now. Can you delay them so I can be there to see them off? I am really sorry for not letting you know,” Alex sounded frantic as he shouted at the taxi driver to rush to his destination.
“Alex, if you’re late, Bethany and Tom may not forgive you easily,” I warned him.
“I know that, baby. I’ll be there. I wasn’t late when they were born and I’m not going to be late for Bethany’s first day of kindergarten or Tom’s first day of second grade,” he replied.
I took the longest way to the school, stopping to get me a coffee at Starbucks to help buy Alex time. I finally pulled up to the school and parked my SUV and got Tom and Bethany out of the car and got their backpacks on for them and handed Tom lunch money. I took both of their hands and walked to the school yard. I spotted a taxi pulling up to the school as Alex handed the cabbie his fair and grabbed his luggage from the back of the cab. I stopped walking and both of my kids looked up at me.
“Why did you stop, Mommy,” Tom asked.
“Look who made it just in time,” I told them as I pointed their father who was running towards us.
“Daddy,” Bethany screamed with joy as she broke from my grip and ran into her father’s arms.
“Hey Bethany, I missed you so much,” Alex greeted her.
“I thought you were going to miss me going to school for the first time, Daddy,” she looked at her father, she looked like she was about to cry.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Bethany. I want to see my princess off to school every year. I promised that to Mommy long before you and Tommy were born,” he told her.
“Alex, you know with us having a baby, we need make some things very clear,” you told him as the two of you sat on the couch of the first house you two owned together.
“What did you have in mind,” he asked you.
“First, you cannot miss me going into labor and delivering the baby. Second, you have to try to be home for all the important milestones our baby is going to have, like talking, walking, and crawling. Potty training and the other lesser milestones can be missed and I will tape them for you. Third, when our baby is ready to go to school, be home to see them off to the first day of school every year and be here to pick them up on the last day if it’s possible. Any other important things like first sports game or play will be dealt with when we get there,” you explained thoroughly.
“I promise to be here, at your side, every step of the way,” he replied as he kissed you and then your flat tummy.
“Mom, I’m really nervous,” Bethany said. She’s fourteen now and she’s about to be in her first musical at school. Alex was running behind due to traffic from the airport. He had called me and had told both me and Bethany to tell you he had landed and was on his way. Tom was doing his best to try to get the show delayed so Alex wouldn’t miss a thing.
“I know you’re nervous, baby,” I told her. I know what nerves are like. I used to sing the National Anthem for the sports teams back in high school, which was how I met Alex.
“Not about the show, Mom. I’m nervous that Dad’s going to miss the start of the play,” she corrected me.
“He’ll be here, Bethany. He promised you he was going to be here. He hasn’t broken a promise yet and I don’t think he plans to,” I told her as I made sure she didn’t smudge her stage makeup.
That’s when the backstage door slammed open and you saw the soaking wet image of your husband and a dozen roses. The storms outside had to be why he was running behind.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he panted as he came inside the school auditorium more. He handed the soaked roses to Bethany and she smiled widely.
“Thank you, Daddy. I thought you’d miss it,” she replied, restraining herself from hugging her soaked father so she wouldn’t ruin her costume.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he replied, “Break a leg, sweetheart.”
Alex and I went into the crowded audience and watched the play. Our daughter ruled that stage, much like her father does at his shows. You both were so proud of your kids. Tom lived to play guitar like his father and we in the pit with the band, while Bethany sang just like her mother and father as she took the stage.
“I’m proud of you, Alex,” I cooed to him as we continued to watch the play unfold.
“How so,” he asked.
“You are an even better father than I had hoped you’d be. You’ve been here every step of the way for them,” I told him.
“I wasn’t going to miss a minute of my family’s important memories. I love you, so much,” he kissed your temple as you both kept watching Bethany dominate the stage.
“I love you too, Alex,” you replied.