“Is that what your mommy did when you lived with her?” Hailey asked them.
They were silent for a moment.
“She used to play the radio and dance with us,” Mae offered.
“Oh yeah,” Travis said. “And we got ice cream at the grocery storeevery time, not just sometimes.”
“She sounds like she knows how to have fun,” Hailey said approvingly.
“She doesn’t come here,” Mae said softly. “She doesn’t miss us.”
“I’m sure she misses you a lot,” Hailey told her. “That might be why it’s hard for her to visit.”
“It makes Dad sad,” Travis said softly. “He said so to Grandma on the phone one time. He’s sad that she doesn’t call us.”
The idea made her chest ache.
“Whodoeshave fun with you?” Hailey asked them, knowing that sometimes it was better to remember to be grateful for what you did have.
“Dad lets us play with the dogs,” Travis said right away. “And he has movie nights with us withpopcorn.”
“And Grandma will come to visit as soon as she can,” Mae added. “She bakes lasagna with us.”
“And Aunt Willow told us last night that she’s going to be here all the time now,” Travis said excitedly. “She and Jensen like playing with us, so they’re going to ask Dad if we can have aboard game nightevery single week.”
“That sounds amazing,” Hailey said, meaning it.
“And you read to us,” Mae said shyly. “And you do all the best funny voices.”
“Thank you,” Hailey said, feeling touched. “I’m so glad I can read to you. It’s so much fun.”
By the time they reached the house and peeled off their coats and boots, the kids had listed off dozens of people who they loved spending time with, from family to friends to teachers at school.
Hailey headed to the kitchen to start some hot chocolate.
“Who’s ready for a fun surprise?” Ransom’s voice boomed from the front door.
The kids cheered, and Hailey wiped her hands on her jeans and came out.
“Come and sit,” Ransom told her, leading her over to the dining room table, and putting her at the head of it. “This is your place of honor.”
“Okay,” she said, feeling mystified.
Travis sat down on one side of her and Mae on the other.
But Ransom disappeared in the kitchen and came back out with a tray.
On the tray were a half-gallon of apple cider and fourglasses. He set it carefully on the table and turned to Hailey.
“Last night, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the fun things we missed being together for,” he told her. “I’m glad we got to dance in honor of the prom we missed. And the kids and I thought maybe we could catch up on a few more things.”
“Okay,” she said, looking between them.
“Okay,” he echoed with a smile. “Travis, will you do the honors?”
Travis hopped up, looking delighted, and began carefully pouring glasses of apple cider, spilling very little of it on the tray.
“When you first headed to New York,” Ransom said. “I thought you’d be paying your dues for a long time, going on auditions, and pounding the pavement. It’s a huge deal that you landed a role on a really popular show right away. We’re really proud of you, Hailey. You accomplished something most actors only dream of.”
