She squeezed the bear again and closed her eyes when Carl’s voice rang out. “Hey, baby girl.”
I sat on the porch with a glass of wine, watching the sunset over the water. The sky was a dark blue with a dusky pink over by the fading sun. The door opened, and Wendy and Toya settled next to me. “Carly?” Toya took a deep drink from her wineglass.
“In bed. I put her to sleep.” I sighed and wiped my face.
“Back in her makeshift canopy bed?” Wendy took a smaller sip from hers.
“Yeah.” I sighed. “My mother went crazy with the blankets.” Wendy and Toya laughed. “She used to do the same in my room when I missed my dad. She sent for blankets and made this blanket fort over my bed.” I closed my eyes and I could still smell it. “It made me feel safe, and like I was back with my dad.”
“It helped that much?” Toya swirled her wine and looked over at me.
I nodded. “The tents layer trap the scent inside. You are surrounded by it.”
“And she has her bear.” Wendy sniffled.
“Are you crying?” Toya turned to her, and she nodded. “Why?”
She laughed. “Is it bad to say that I’m jealous?”
We both turned to face her, and she stood, pacing away from us. “My dad, I lost him when I was young, and my Goddess, do I still miss him? But I didn’t have his scent, or a teddy bear with his voice. And I know it’s stupid to be jealous of a little girl whohad to watch her father die. But I am.” She turned to us with tears on her face. “I wish I could hear his voice again.”
“Wendy.” We both stood and hugged her. “It’s okay to feel that way.” Toya pulled back. “It’s okay to miss your dad.”
She nodded, but her sobs broke a little part of me. So I tried something I had never tried before. I tried to call Wendy’s father to this side of the veil. I wasn’t going to say anything, because I honestly didn’t think it would work. I didn’t even know his name.
“Wendy…” I wrapped my arms around her. “It’s okay.”
“Lady bug?” I felt Wendy freeze. Toya and I looked up to find a man with Wendy’s eyes and crazy hair standing at the other end of the porch. “Is that you?” His voice was hopeful, and I felt my friend tremble. She slowly turned and faced the man.
“Daddy? Is that really you?” Her words were a whisper, but I could hear the hope in her words.
He looked around, and then back at her. “I don’t know how I’m here. But yeah, it’s me.”
Wendy sprinted from us to him in a second, and I winced as she tumbled through him. “Wendy.” I called after her as she hit the wall. “It’s just his spirit. I can’t bring someone back, not really.”
“But is it my dad?” She looked between me and him.
I raised my shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t honestly know.” She looked at me, and I could see pain in her eyes. “I wish I could tell you for certain, but I’ve never met the man. I can tell you I called for your father specifically, and this is the man that showed up. I can also tell you that if I have called someone forward, they show up. But you will have to tell us if he is your dad.”
Wendy looked at the man, and leaned in closer, staring deeply into his eyes. The more they stood next to each other, the more I could see the similarities. Toya nodded to the door and I agreed. We turned and grabbed our glasses of wine and then turned backwhen Wendy whispered. “Tell me something only you would know.”
He leaned in and whispered. “You have a birthmark on your butt cheek that looks like a ladybug, hence your nickname.”
“Daddy!” she cried, but Toya and I were looking at each other.
I snorted and mouthed the words lady bug, and then Toya lost it. She laughed, and we both looked towards our friend, only to find her dad smiling and Wendy beet red. “Lady bug?” Toya howled.
“Shut up!” Wendy cried.
We both laughed. But I grabbed Toya. “You guys talk. I don’t know how long this will last and I don’t want you two to waste your time together.” I pulled Toya towards the door, and Wendy mouthed the words, Thank you to me. I winked and closed the door.
“That was a really nice thing for you to do.” Toya smiled as she sank to the sofa.
I shrugged. “I didn’t know if it would even work, but I am thrilled it did.” I shook my head and chuckled softly. I took another deep swig from my drink.
Toya followed suit. And then she looked towards the kitchen. “Soooo.” I looked at her and lifted my brow. “We both agree we are going to call her ladybug from now on, right?”
“You bet your ass we are.” We both threw back our heads and started laughing.
