She folded the drawing carefully and put it in her purse.
Afterward, they walked toward Claire’s car.
Maggie slipped her hand into Claire’s.
“I was scared nobody would come.”
Claire stopped.
“Why?”
“Daddy had work.”
“He would have found a way.”
“I know.”
Maggie stared at the sidewalk.
“But sometimes things change.”
Claire understood what she meant.
Adults promised visits.
Jobs changed schedules.
Plans moved.
People said soon.
Children learned to protect themselves by expecting disappointment.
Claire crouched in front of her.
“Listen to me.”
Maggie looked up.
“I can’t promise that every plan in life will happen exactly the way we want.”
Maggie nodded.
“But if I tell you I’m coming, I will do everything I reasonably can to be there.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Maggie hugged her.
Claire held on.
That evening Ethan invited her to stay for dinner.
He made pasta.
Maggie complained that the sauce had “too many green things.”
Ethan claimed green things were evidence of advanced cooking.
Claire sided with Maggie.
After dinner, Maggie fell asleep on the couch with Mr. Buttons under her chin.
Ethan covered her with a blanket.
Claire watched him.
There was tenderness in every small movement.
He tucked the blanket under Maggie’s shoulder.
Moved a strand of hair from her face.
Lowered the television volume.
Then he returned to the kitchen.
“Can I ask you something?”
Claire looked up from drying a plate.
“Sure.”
“When she asked you that first day…”
