The next afternoon, Hannah held the smallest birthday party I had ever attended.
There were seven of us, a grocery-store cake, and six balloons.
“My eight-year-old understands kindness better than you.”
Noah arrived holding the red dress in both hands.
“This is for Lucy.”
Hannah blinked. “For her?”
“Open it.”
When she did, she immediately looked at me.
“Adele, this is too much.”
“Noah bought it.”
My son corrected me.
“I earned most of it.”
“This is for Lucy.”
I raised an eyebrow.
He quickly added, “And I won’t skip lunch again.”
Cyril coughed to hide a laugh.
Hannah knelt in front of him.
“You bought this for her?”
Noah gave one firm dip of his chin.
Hannah smiled. “I think she’ll like it.”
“I won’t skip lunch again.”
***
Twenty minutes later, Hannah brought Lucy outside wearing the red dress.
Noah had been right. As soon as Lucy realized the skirt moved, she grabbed both sides and spun.
She stumbled sideways, caught herself against Hannah’s knees, then demanded to be let loose again.
Noah had been right.
Noah laughed so hard that he had to sit down.
Lucy squealed.
Red fabric flew around her legs.
Hannah wiped at her face.
I noticed my mother-in-law standing near the fence.
She had come after all.
She watched Lucy spin.
For once, she said nothing.
Red fabric flew around her legs.
***
That night, Cyril found me watching Noah sleep.
“Proud?”
“Very,” I said. “Still furious about the lunches.”
“Same.”
We had barely gotten out of bed before 6:30 the next morning when Noah came rushing into our room.
“Mom! Dad!”
I sat up.
“What happened?”
“Come outside!”
“Still furious about the lunches.”
