Cody ranacross the driveway and wrapped his arms around Debbie’s waist. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Tears filled Debbie’s eyes. “You’re welcome, buddy.”
Though not as enthusiastic as his brother, Dallas hugged her next. “Thank you, Miss Debbie.”
Debbie returned the embrace, relishing the moment. “You’re welcome, Dallas. Now why don’t you boys show me if these trucks can go as fast as the boxes say.”
“Mine’s not a truck. It’s a jeep.” Dallas picked up his remote control.
Debbie grinned. “Oh, sorry.”
“I bet mine goes the fastest,” Cody said as he pressed the lever on his remote control and backed the monster truck right into his shin.
Debbie and Dallas laughed. Contentment filled her as she watched the boys master driving their new vehicles. She took pictures of the smiles on their faces. Good thing she charged the batteries as soon as she got home from the store with the new toys, or she might have missed this joyful moment.
After a while, she reminded the boys to stay in the driveway and off the road then went inside to check on dinner. She peeked in the oven at the enchiladas then joined Savannah in the dining room.
“It looks amazing.” Every day, Debbie studied the picture taking shape, trying to discern what Savannah had accomplished in her last painting session. And every day, Debbie spotted details that had been added where she thought the painting was already finished. Details that made the image practically jump off the wall.
Savannah blushed. “Thank you. I still have a lot to do.”
“I can’t believe how much you’ve accomplished in just a week.”
Sure there were areas where the image was barely discernible, but Debbie knew what it would eventually look like, and Savannah was doing an incredible job.
The young girl turned away from the mural. “The boys were so excited for their trucks, I didn’t get a chance to thank you for the art kit. It’s really nice, but you shouldn’t have spent so much money on me.”
Debbie’s heart sank. Savannah was too young to be worried about how much a gift cost. She wanted to reach out and pat Savannah’s arm, but the girl was more reserved than her brothers.
“It was nothing really. I was just feeling a little lonely this morning and decided I needed to do something nice for someone else.” Traitorous tears filled her eyes.
“You miss Noah, don’t you?”
Debbie swiped at her eyes. “More than I thought I would. I mean he was such a little stinker and I didn’t even have him very long.”
“Do you think all moms miss their kids when they’re away?” Savannah asked in a voice so quiet Debbie’s heart split wide open.
These Reed children were going to be the death of her.
She had no idea how to answer. She wanted to assure Savannah her mother loved her and missed her no matter where she was, but Debbie couldn’t understand how Cheyenne could walk away from her children. She ached to pull Savannah into her arms and tell her she missed her and her brothers like crazy when they weren’t at her house.
Savannah’s phone dinged, saving Debbie from having to answer the difficult question.
The girl set her pallet on the table and pulled her phone from her pocket. She let out a little squeal after reading the text on the screen.
“Is everything okay?”
Savannah’s face split into the biggest smile Debbie had ever seen. “Yes!” she squealed again. “It’s my friend Rainey.”
“The one who used to like Caleb, but last week decided she now likes Justin?”
Debbie often visited with Savannah while she painted, and a lot had happened last week.
On Thursday, Justin had asked Rainey to Prom, and she decided she was in love with him, which gave Savannah and Debbie a good laugh.
Then on Friday, Savannah confessed to Rainey that she liked Caleb and that he’d been texting her. Rainey had been so excited for Savannah that she insisted they needed to go shopping for prom dresses together.
“She said Caleb asked her if I had a date for prom yet.”
