The room went quiet. Even Brian set down his cookie. “Show us, Sugar Princess.”
With enormous pride and careful concentration, Jewel took her letters from their temporary home, a basket in the corner, and plopped onto the floor. She arranged the letters on the parlor rug.C-A-T. She pointed to each letter, said its sound, and then swept her finger across. “Cat!”
She looked around at the circle of faces and gave them her sunny, squint-eyed smile. Judging by her chortle, she seemed satisfied with their astonishment.
ThenD-O-G. Same process, same triumph. “Dog!”
Ivy knelt beside her and whispered an encouraging prompt.
Jewel set downSand hesitated on theU, her brow furrowing. She looked up at Ivy.
Ivy gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
His child placed theUwith renewed confidence and then added another letter. “S-U-N. “Sun!”
The silence that followed was profound—the kind of silence that fills a room when something extraordinary has happened, and everyone needs a moment to absorb their amazement. Then clapping broke out.
Torin watched his friends’ faces and saw the emotion of Jewel’s accomplishments reflected in their expressions.
Hank's eyes had gone suspiciously bright. He blinked rapidly and turned his head toward the window, his jaw working.
Brian cleared his throat once, twice, and then a third time, his green eyes glistening above the knuckles he held against his chin.
Cora cupped her face with her hands, tears streaming freely down her cheeks, making no effort whatsoever to hide them.
Elsie watched with shining eyes, her hand pressed to her mouth. "She’s wonderful.” She bent to whisper to Ivy. “Cora told me what you might accomplish, but I didn’t fully understand.”
“Jewel learns differently,” Ivy said. “It takes patience and repetition and—honestly—a great deal of imagination. But she learns. Every day, she learns a little bit.”
“Did I notsayshe was a wonderful teacher?” Cora pointed at Ivy with a mock accusatory finger, her voice wobbly with emotion. “Didn’t I say it?” She glared at Torin and pulled out a handkerchief to dab at her tears. “Didn't I tell all of you?”
“You did,” Torin confirmed quietly, warmth in his chest. He looked at Ivy, who knelt on the rug beside his daughter, her faceflushed and her eyes bright. “I was skeptical, and thank the Good Lord, you were so very right.”
But Cora was not to be satisfied with just that acknowledgment. “I also said she'd be good for Jewel. And foryou.” She aimed this last word at Torin with the precision of a woman who'd been waiting months to sayI told you soand intended to savor every syllable.
“Cora,” Brian murmured, sliding his hand around her waist.
“Well, Idid.” She ruffled up.
They all laughed.
For the next half hour, Jewel held court. She sat on the parlor rug with her felt letters spread around her like a colorful kingdom and demonstrated her accomplishments for her courtiers and ladies-in-waiting. Each letter was held up, its sound pronounced, an example word supplied. “Buh. Buh is for Bave.” She squeezed the kitten, who bore the embrace nobly.
Jewel reached to touch a cookie plate. “Duh. Duh is for dish. Jewel good wash-er.”
“That you are, my sugar princess,” Brian drawled, circumspectly swiping the back of his hand over his eyes.
“Eff. Eff is for flow-er.” With fierce concentration, Jewel rearranged her letters. “J-E-W-E-L,” the child sounded out, placing each letter with painstaking care. “Jewel! Dat’s me!”
“That's you,” Ivy confirmed, her voice soft with pride. “The most precious jewel there is.”
A surge of happy energy went through Torin. Everyone here saw his daughter in the way he did.Everything I want is right here.The idea dumbfounded him.
The afternoon unfolded from there in a stream of warmth and laughter and the easy pleasure of friends who didn't see each other often enough. They gathered around the dining room table, scooting close together to make space for Jewel’s chairbrought in from the kitchen, and partook of the food lovingly prepared by the three women.
Torin sat in his place at the head and looked down the length of the table at the dear people arranged around it and tried to capture this moment in his memory. Hank carved the ham Elsie brought. Cora distributed biscuits with the efficiency of a quartermaster. Ivy spooned beans onto Jewel’s plate while gently redirecting the girl's attempt to feed Brave from the serving bowl. And his daughter presided over the gathering with the regal authority of a child who has never had so much company and found the experience magnificent.
“More bis-kit,” Jewel requested, reaching across the table with an enthusiasm that nearly toppled the butter dish.
