38. Zoo Day

"Gage!!" Hazel ran to the man and he instinctively scooped her up for a big hug. "I missed you! where have you been?!" her little hands wrapped around his neck and he smiled brightly at Bree.

"Hazel honey, why don't you take a seat, Gage is going to join us at the zoo but he would like to talk to you first." Bree ushered both of them to the living room then she followed Mrs. Mancini as she was headed out the door wanting to give the three of them privacy.

"oh-oh... was it because I asked you to be my daddy?"

Bree took a deep breath and backed away when tears were threatening to roll down her cheeks. "It's okay Bree, believe in him, believe in yourself," her neighbor put her hand on Bree's shoulder, assuring her. "I'll be next door if you need anything, okay?"

"Thank you." She said putting a smile on her face and toughening herself up. Bree locked the front door after her neighbor, then join Hazel and Gage in the living room.

"Mommy! mommy