"A Difficult Conversation"

That night, Ashley and Avan sat down with Ender in the living room, trying to find the right words to explain the situation. They had discussed it beforehand, deciding to approach the conversation with empathy and honesty. "Ender, we need to talk to you about something," Ashley began, taking a deep breath. "You told your class about us, about what you saw between Mommy and me." Ender looked down, his eyes avoiding theirs. "I didn't mean to," he mumbled. Avan put a hand on his shoulder. "We know you didn't mean to, buddy. But it's very important that we don't share things like that with our friends. Some things are just for grown-ups, and they're private." Ender looked up, his eyes curious. "Why?" Ashley hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Well, because they're just for us, and it's not for others to know. It's like when you have a secret, and you don't want to tell anyone else. This is like that, but for grown-ups." Ender nodded, seeming to understand. But then he asked a question that made Ashley and Avan exchange a nervous glance. "Were you making a baby?" Ashley felt her face flush, and Avan cleared his throat before speaking. "Ender, we're not going to talk about that right now. What's important is that we love each other, and that's what matters. We just need to be careful about what we share with others, okay?" Ender nodded again, looking thoughtful. "I understand. I won't tell anyone else." Avan smiled, relieved. "That's great, buddy. We're proud of you for understanding." But Ashley couldn't shake the feeling that this conversation was just the beginning of many more to come. She looked at Avan, and he seemed to sense her concerns. They would have to navigate this new reality, one where their relationship was no longer a secret, but not openly discussed either. As they hugged Ender goodnight, Ashley couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them, and how they would handle the challenges that came with being a same-sex couple in a preschool community.