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“Honestly, I haven’t had coffee this good since I stopped trusting Benedict’s recommendations,” Eloise said, sipping her iced latte as they strolled through the park.
Penelope laughed, shifting her sunglasses as she balanced her stroller-free afternoon with a blissful sigh. “That’s because Benedict thinks every hole-in-the-wall is quirky instead of potentially unhygienic .”
Eloise smirked. “Exactly. He has no standards.”
Penelope’s phone buzzed again. She didn’t even need to look anymore—Colin had been texting her nonstop for the last thirty minutes. A soft ping every two to three minutes.
Eloise tilted her head. “Let me guess… my brother again?”
Penelope didn’t answer. She just turned on her phone so Eloise could see.
Colin: [photo attachment] Baby Agatha, sitting in a shopping cart, wearing a floppy sunhat five sizes too big, her chubby cheeks round and pink as she gnawed on a corner of the tag.
Colin : Okay, but TELL ME this isn’t the cutest hat in the entire mall
Colin : Imagine u in a matching one. I saw one. I held it. I wept.
Penelope tried not to smile, but failed spectacularly.
“I think he’s more excited about this ‘daddy-daughter day’ than your actual wedding day, ” Eloise said, eyeing her.
“He’s just been inspired lately,” Penelope said dryly.
Another buzz.
Colin : WAIT, THERE’S A DRESS
Colin [photo] Agatha now wearing the sunhat and a tiny white dress covered in embroidered strawberries. Her sock had fallen halfway off her foot. She looked mildly confused.Colin : YOU could wear red. I’ll wear pink. She’s the strawberry, we’re the packaging. Do u SEE the vision???
Penelope covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
Eloise leaned forward. “He’s spiraling.”
“He’s nesting,” Penelope corrected gently.
Buzz.
Colin : I also saw these little brown boots for her. Ugh, they're tiny and emotional. By the way, I miss you. Did I say that?
Eloise made a dramatic gagging noise.
Penelope was already texting back:
Penelope : She looks like she could run a very stylish fruit stand. I approve.
Colin : !!!!!!
Buzz.
Colin : okay okay WAIT
Colin [photo] Colin is holding Agatha in front of a mirror. He wore a blush pink polo. She had the dress AND the sunhat. Her expression said she’d had enough of his fashion show.
Colin: me and my favorite girl. Missing our third. ❤️
Penelope’s heart gave a tiny, ridiculous flutter.
Eloise stared at her, deadpan. “Pen. Are you crying?”
“No,” Penelope said, sniffing once. “Shut up.”
Buzz.
Colin : What size are you again in “adorable matching wife dresses”
Colin : asking for me and the manager at Baby Bloom, who is now fully invested in our family matching :D
Colin : also… I may have bought her another shoes. Pls don’t be mad.
Penelope looked up at Eloise with the softest smile.
“He bought her shoes,” she whispered.
Eloise stared. “That man is unwell. ”
Penelope’s phone buzzed again.
Colin: Okay. final one. I swear.
Colin: tiny trench coat. We all go beige. Detective Family. Imagine the photos.
Penelope showed Eloise the picture.
Eloise groaned. “He’s out of control.”
Penelope grinned, typing back:
Penelope: Buy the trench coat. But only if you promise to stop after this.
Colin: Define “stop.”
Penelope: COLIN.
Colin: Okay, okay, okay, I’ll only buy the trench coat and maybe the boots
Penelope: Colin.
Colin: I love you
Colin: and your commitment to us matching 🫶
Eloise took a sip of her coffee and watched Penelope try not to laugh again.
“You’re smiling.”
Penelope sighed. “I can’t help it.”
Buzz.
Colin: I forgot to send this
Colin: [photo] Colin holding Agatha, both in sunglasses, in front of a mirror. Detective Agatha and Sidekick Dad. Crime? Too much style. 😎
Penelope showed it wordlessly.
Eloise stared. “He bought the trench coat already, didn’t he?” Penelope nodded as she texted back.
Penelope : We’re going to need a bigger closet.
Colin sent another photo, and this time, it was a blurry photo of Agatha, sound asleep against Colin’s chest, sunhat sliding down her face, her tiny hand clutching his collar.
Colin : Also, this is currently our baby. 🥺💕 (She fell asleep, if you can’t tell)
Penelope stared at it for a long, quiet moment.
Then she whispered, “You know what, I think I’m going to let him buy the matching pajamas.”
Eloise groaned. “Geez, you’ve lost control too.”
Penelope unlocked the front door with one hand, balancing the shopping bag with the other. The house smelled like fresh fruit and baby shampoo, and as she stepped inside, she could already hear it—tiny, bubbly giggles echoing from the kitchen.
She paused for a second in the hallway just to listen.
Agatha’s laugh was one of her favorite sounds, like sunshine in sound form. And Colin’s voice followed soon after, soft and silly, unmistakably beaming.
“Hey, hey, no stealing the spoon, little love! I see you plotting.”
Another squeal of laughter.
Penelope made her way toward the kitchen, the bag forgotten by the door.
And then she saw them.
Colin, in his blue sweater that she had given him on their anniversary, was crouched at the kitchen island with Agatha in her high chair, now completely dressed in a yellow dress outfit, smushed strawberries on her tray, and her cheeks. Her tiny fists were sticky, and her feet kicked excitedly against the edge of the chair.
Colin had a spoon in one hand and a goofy grin on his face.
Penelope’s heart melted on the spot.
Colin looked up at the sound of her footsteps, and his entire face lit up like someone had flipped a switch.
He gasped dramatically. “Look, little love! Mummy’s home!”
Agatha whipped her head around at his voice, and the moment her eyes landed on Penelope, her whole face broke into the biggest gummy smile.
Then— clap clap clap —her little hands came together in a delighted applause.
Penelope laughed, her eyes stinging a little. “Oh, my darling girl,” she cooed, setting her bag down and coming over, “have you been showing Daddy who’s in charge?”
“She definitely has,” Colin said, reaching out to brush a strawberry off Agatha’s cheek. “She demanded four outfit changes and tried to eat a sock.”
“And you let her?” Penelope grinned, pressing a kiss to the top of Colin’s head as she passed, then leaned in to kiss Agatha’s sticky cheek. “Oh, we’re raising a menace.”
“A fashionable menace,” Colin said proudly. “With an excellent sense of color coordination.”
Agatha let out a delighted squeal and clapped again.
Penelope chuckled and leaned against the counter beside Colin, watching them both like she wanted to bottle the moment and keep it forever. “And I missed you both today.”
Colin smiled, soft and slow. “We missed you more.”
He handed her the spoon. “Your turn. She likes it when you do the airplane.”
Penelope took it, cradling her daughter’s chubby fingers in one hand. “You want the airplane, my little bee?”
Agatha’s face lit up again.
Colin stood beside them, arm sliding around Penelope’s waist as she fed Agatha a spoonful of banana with exaggerated sound effects. He kissed her temple.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“For what?”
“For being a good dad, strawberry dresses and floppy hats. And making her giggle like that.”
Colin looked at her, his gaze soft and warm and just a little in awe. “Are you kidding? I’ll do anything to make her smile like that. Or you.”
Penelope rolled her eyes playfully. “Well, good, because I told Eloise we’re doing a family brunch tomorrow. In the outfits.”
Colin looked positively thrilled. “I knew you’d come around.”
Agatha, meanwhile, reached out toward Penelope, clearly done.
Penelope gently unbuckled her while Colin wiped her face.
As soon as she was in Penelope’s arms, Agatha tucked her face into her mother’s shoulder with a happy sigh, like everything in her world was suddenly right.