We stayed like that for a while, until she pulled back just enough to look at me.

“Ice cream?” she said, her lips twitching into a small smile.

I laughed through the sniffles. “Always.”

She smiled back. “Good. Because we have the fancy kind. Belgian chocolate. I was saving it, but today feels like a ‘no rules’ day.”

I let out a soft chuckle. “Thanks, Mum.”

She brushed some hair from my face and kissed my forehead.

“You’re starting school next week,” she said. ...