Jack holds my hand and rests his head on my arm.
“I really am okay,” I assure him. Then I purposely change the topic. “What animal are you going to pet first?”
“I’m going to catch a baby goat and make it hug me.”
I chuckle. “That’s a plan. Good luck catching one.”
“I’m really good at it. Can we get one?”
“A baby goat?”
“Yeah. They’re so bouncy. Like Tigger. I want one.”
“Maybe not right now.”
“But later?”
“Let’s talk about it with Dad and Levi.”
“Levi will say yes.”
“You’re right about that.” I smile.
“But Daddy might say no,” Jack says, his face turning earnest.
“He might. But it would be because he loves us and wants what’s best for us.”
“You always say that.”
“Because it’s true.”
“I know. We love ourselves. Our whole family of selves.”
My smile comes from somewhere deep inside me. “Yes, we do.”
EJ and Levi return with a cold bottle of water and a plate loaded with potato salad, a turkey leg and burger.
“What’s all this?” I ask him.
“I thought you might be hungry.”
He sets the plate in front of me. I pick some meat off the turkey and EJ and the boys make light work of the burger and potato salad.
Food helps. I feel much better after eating.
“Everyone ready?” I ask, standing, grabbing my backpack, and taking our trash to a can.
We walk toward the petting zoo and a volunteer lets the boys through the gate where all the baby animals are playing or sleeping.
“Why are babies so adorable?” EJ asks almost absentmindedly.
“Hmmm,” I put my finger to my lip and roll my eyes to the sky as if I’m pondering his question.
I couldn’t have asked for a better segue.
I reach out and grab EJ’s hand, placing it over my belly and leaving my hand over his.
His brow scrunches slightly.
