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When Mama stands up, Mrs. Jackman hugs her. “Thank you for everything.”
I don’t think Mama realizes just how amazing she is. Who knows what would’ve happened if she hadn’t been there.
They spend a few minutes showing Leo off and visiting with us before they leave. It’s time for Leo to be home with all of his siblings. I know they’re all anxious to be together again.
“Mama, come here please,” I say.
She walks over and sits next to me. “What is it, love?”
I take her hand. “You’re happy.”
“What?”
I tilt my head, eyes locked on her face. “You’re smiling.”
She touches her lips. “I didn’t realize that.”
“I think it’s because of Leo.”
She leans closer and brushes my hair back with her hand. “He’s awfully cute.”
“You helped bring a baby into this world and it didn’t make you sad,” I say, remembering what she told me. She said she didn’t want to go back to work because it would be too hard to see babies come into this world, but I think if that were true, she wouldn’t be happy to see Leo.
She pinches my cheek. “I guess you’re right.”
“Will you promise me something?” I ask.
She nods. “Anything.”
“Go back to work for me.”
She sighs, looking away. “We talked about this.”
“I know,” I say. She’s scared, but I know if she tries it, she’ll fall in love with it again. “Try it for a couple months and if you hate it, you can stop.”
She laughs at my stubbornness. “I don’t know.”
“Just try for a little bit.”
She leans in and kisses my forehead. “I’ll think about it,” she says.
I don’t know if she’ll go through with it, but it eases my heart to know she’ll think about it. Even if she doesn’t do it for herself, maybe she’ll do it for me.
Later that night when Papa comes to visit me after work, I have a talk with him too. “I love you,” I say.
He sits next to my bed and kisses my hand. “I love you too, Bug.”
“Go on adventures for me,” I say.
He nods, tears falling. “I will.”
“And take Mama rollerblading again. I bet she’d like that.”
He half laughs. “I bet she would.”
I close my eyes and drift off to sleep imagining them having fun together.
Annie, Daniel, and Olive are in my room. Broken Sage plays in the background as Annie helps Olive rehearse lines to her play. Daniel sits next to me, resting his head on my bed.
