“Don’t you bite me, or I’ll only buy those treats you loathe for a whole year!” I hissed, bringing her bemused face up to mine. “I miss them too, you know. But we just have to put on a brave face until lunchtime.”

“Doors open in ten, nine, eight …”

I adjusted the horned headband, checked my photo backdrop was straight, and turned towards the doors as they swung open, and the crowd swarmed in.

* * *

“Jemma!” a trio of voices chorused, and my heart leapt into my throat. I craned my neck over the aliens and Vikings and superheroes all lined up to see me, and there they were.

Don’t cry, Jemma! You’ll ruin your makeup!

“My girls!” I called out to them, waving frantically and swallowing back the lump in my throat. There they were, beaming back at me, their mums behind them, peering around in wide-eyed bewilderment and whispering to one another. “Are you okay waiting? I’m so sorry, it’s been hectic all morning!”

They nodded, Faith and Harper’s newly growing-in hair bobbing around their cheeks. Ellie had a fuzz covering her head and the look of someone who was immensely grateful to have escaped the hospital for the day.

I blinked back my tears and grinned at the man dressed in the most elaborate parrot costume I’d ever seen—feathers and all—who was holding up a little pirate ensemble to his beautiful cinnamon-coated ferret.

“Awww, your daddy wants to be your sidekick!” I cooed, stroking its nose and producing a treat. “Can I?”

The man nodded, and his fur baby chomped away happily as he handed over his card to pay.

The next few people produced their photo tickets, and I came out from behind the table, scooping up a very bemused Luci and posing with a princess, a witch, and Michelangelo from the Ninja Turtles in front of the backdrop. Michelangelo took their picture with a Polaroid camera and chatted animatedly with me as it developed before bashfully asking if I would sign it.

How was this my life? I was signing autographs for teenage mutants who thought I was a celebrity while selling more stock in a few hours than I usually would in six months.

And then my girls made it to the front of the line.

“You look fire!” Faith beamed. Harper looked a little conflicted, but I knew that to her, devils were considered evil, so I gave her a pass.

But Ellie wrapped an arm around my waist and proclaimed, “That costume is eating and leaving no crumbs, Jemma!”

I giggled. “Thanks!” I gestured to their matching angel wings. “You all look so great, too! I’m so glad they let you out for the day, Ell.”

Her smile widened. “Even better. I’m done with chemo! They said the cancer is in remission, and I get to go home!”