After getting dressed and stepping out of the break room, N spotted Damon sitting behind his desk, looking refreshed as he worked.


    She shot him a re, unable to suppress her annoyance.


    Damon rubbed his nose, feeling a bit guilty. "Honey, why didn''t you rest a little longer?"


    "It''s almost time to pick up Buddy from school. Are you still busy with work?" N asked.


    "There''s just a little left to do, but I can finish it at home. Let me grab my things, and we''ll pick up Buddy together," he answered.


    N considered telling him to stay and finish his work but remembered they only had three days left together. She nodded. "Okay, I''ll wait for you."


    Five minutester, they were on their way downstairs.


    Since N had driven over, Damon decided to take her car to pick up Mason.


    During the ride, N stared out the window, lost in thought about how to tell Damon she''d be leaving for Meristate.


    Damon noticed something was off but didn''t press her. He figured he''d wait until after dinner to find the right moment to ask about it.


    They soon arrived at Mason''s kindergarten.


    Mason was already waiting by the entrance. When he saw N''s car, he wiggled free from his teacher''s hand and ran over.


    Opening the back door and noticing Damon behind the wheel, Mason''s eyes widened. "Daddy, howe you''re here to pick me up today?"


    As Mason climbed into the car and buckled his seatbelt, Damon smiled. "Your mom and I decided toe together."


    "Oh, guess what? I got a gold star today at school!" Mason said excitedly, holding out the star for N to see. "Mommy, isn''t that awesome?"


    N smiled and nodded. "Very awesome! Why did your teacher give you a gold star?"


    "During naptime, Thomas kept


    pulling Lifith''s braids, so I told the teacher. She scolded Thomas and gave me a gold star!" Masono recounted.


    Upon seeing the pride on Mason''s face, N''s heart warmed.


    When they had lived in Capitarnia, Mason had always been calm and maturez While she''d appreciated his steadiness, she''d worried he was missing the carefree innocence of a child his age.


    Since moving to Saintornia, he''d be much more lively, acting more like a typical five-year-old.


    "Buddy, you''re amazing! Since your teacher gave you a gold star, Mommy wants


    to give you a reward, too," N said.


    Mason''s eyes lit up. "What is it?"


    "What do you want?" N asked.


    Mason''s small face scrunched up as he thought hard. He wanted so many things that he couldn''t decide.


    After a moment, he looked up at N. "Mommy, can I only pick one?"


    N thought for a moment and smiled. "Here''s an idea. Write down everything you want in a notebook and give it to me. I''ll pick one as surprise. That way, you''ll still get what you want but also feel excited when you open the gift. What do you think?"


    Mason''s eyes sparkled with excitement. He nodded eagerly. "Okay! I''ll start writing as soon as we get home!"


    "Alright," N replied.


    Buoyed by the thought of his reward, Mason was in high spirits for the rest of the drive.


    As soon as they reached home, he jumped out of the car and ran straight inside, eager to grab a notebook and start his list.