TWENTY-ONE
LILY
“If you were a plant, Stella, what would you need to grow big and strong?”
“Plants need water to grow,” Stella declares. Fisting a green crayon in her hand, she colors in a tree in the booklet I gave her.
“Yes, you’re right. That’s not the only thing plants need to live. Do you know what else?”
She stops coloring and peers up at me. “The sun and dirt.”
“Yes!”
She slaps my hand, ecstatic.
“There’s one more thing.” I poke my chin with my finger. “It’s something even humans need.”
Stella throws her arms out around her. “Air!”
Stella’s an angel. If I could, I would shrink her and put her in my pocket.
“Stella, I have a secret,” I whisper.
Her face turns up with a sneaky smile. I gesture her to come closer, and her little ear nearly brushes my lips.
“Do you know you’re the smartest person on this tour?”
“I’m the smartest person on this tour!” she exclaims, jumping on her knees and turning heads on her brother’s tour bus.
Should’ve known kids and secrets don’t mesh well together.
“That was supposed to be a secret!”
Steps rush down the stairs, and not a second later, her brother appears, half asleep and frazzled. “Did someone yell?”
“Did you know, Daddy?” Stella bounces, hitting my shoulder with each jolt.
Lately, she’s been calling Levi her dad and Amelia her mom.
Rubbing his eyes, willing himself to wake up, he leans his tired body on the wall. “Know what, Birdie?”
Her little lips purse. “I’m the smartest person on the bus, duh!”
I can’t hold back my laugh when she rolls her eyes at him.
He does it right back to her. “Someone so small shouldn’t be so sassy.”
“Big people shouldn’t be so silly. You should be smart because you’re so big.” She gestures with one hand lower and one higher.
“All right …” I trail off, giving Levi an apologetic smile. “Do you want to give Levi your test so he sees how smart you are?” I direct at the sass queen.
Nodding, she jumps down from the booth, and I hand her the booklet. Skipping to him, she pushes it into his stomach. A playful look crosses his face as he holds it up and reads the A-plus.
“That’s my girl.” He ruffles her tiny head. “Now get back to work.”
“Yes, Daddy!” she replies brightly, running back to her spot.
With her back turned, Levi sends me a small, defeated smile.
