For the first time, I didn’t feel like the little girl standing outside the closet door. I felt like the one opening it.
Emma twirled in my heels, her laughter bouncing against every wall in the cabin, and I rose to my feet. “Wait here,” I said softly, heading for the bathroom,
Her eyes went wide when I came back with my box of makeup. “Wanna try?”
“Weally?”
“Really.”
She scampered over, nearly toppling in the heels. I steadied her and she pulled out a bright red tube of lipstick. Knowing exactly what to do with it, she swiped the color across her mouththen smacked her lips together and turned toward the mirror. She gasped. “I look like a movie star!”
I grinned, tears rushing to my eyes. “You sure do!”
She placed her hands on her hips and swayed back and forth, then squatted back to my box, and pulled out a bottle of perfume. Soon the entire room smelled like vanilla and roses, and her tiny cheeks were hot pink with too much blush.
Another knock came at the door, and I turned around to look at it. “Are you expecting anyone?” I asked Emma.
She shrugged and made a face. “No.”
I got off the floor, walked to the door, and peeked out the peephole. Trisha was standing on the other side, a frantic look on her face. I swung the door open.
“Have you—” But relief broke her features instantly, and she ran inside. “Oh, thank God,” she said, scooping little Emma up into her arms.
“I’m so sorry!” I blinked, wringing my hands together. “I thought you knew she was here. She said?—”
Trisha shook her head, exhaling, but there was no blame in her voice, only relief. “I told her we could come overafterI folded the laundry…but when I came out of the bedroom, she was gone.”
Emma wiggled free from her mother’s arms, then went over to find George again.
“You’re all she’s been talking about all week.” Trisha explained. “Aunt Vivienne this, and Aunt Vivienne that. It’s partially my fault I realize. I’ve been promising for days that we’d come over to see you. I just didn’t want to bother you?—”
“It’s no bother.” I interrupted, not wanting Emma to hear those words. “In fact, we’re having a lot of fun.”
Emma’s mom looked at the chaos scattered across the floor—lipstick tubes, powder compacts, shoes strewn all over the place.Her gaze swept over the mess, then landed on Emma, who was grinning from ear to ear, lipstick crooked on her mouth.
Emma spun in one last circle, nearly toppling in the heels before catching herself and striking a pose with her hands on her hips. “She let me wear lipstick!” she announced proudly.
Her mom arched a brow but smiled widely. “Thank you,” she said, looking from me back to Emma. “I think you just made her whole year.”
I felt my throat tighten as I took in Emma’s joy, the brightness radiating from her like sunlight. My voice came out softer than I expected. “I think she made mine, too.”
Something flickered in her mom’s expression then—hesitation, then—“We’re going on a picnic this afternoon,” she said, her tone light but hopeful. “Would you like to join us?”
Thirty-Two
The sun waswarm against my skin as I stretched out on the checkered picnic blanket. My fingers trailed through the overgrown grass, while George lay nearby, sniffing lazily at a butterfly hovering just above his nose. He huffed, batting at it with his giant paw before rolling onto his back with a dramatic groan.
Trisha laughed. “I swear, Dean’s dog is part human.”
I smiled, watching George fondly, but my mind was somewhere else, spinning with thoughts of Dean and his entire family losing this place.
Emma was in front of us, twirling in her dress, arms outstretched like she was trying to fly. Her laughter carried on the breeze, light and unselfconscious, tugging at something deep in my chest.
“Careful,” I called lightly as she spun a little too close to the blanket. “You’ll take off if you don’t slow down.”
She stopped mid-twirl, eyes wide, and looked at me with utter seriousness. “Do you fink so?”
I nodded solemnly, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “If you twirl any faster, we’ll have to tie you down with George’s leash to keep you from floating away.”
