Chapter 10
By Ava’s birthday, the house felt like ours again.
Marcus had hung paper stars over the kitchen table. Eli had insisted on helping ice the cake and had covered one whole side with blue sprinkles. June sat in her high chair, delighted by every face that leaned close.
Lena arrived with a stack of books. Pearl brought a tray of sandwiches. We had invited Diane for the last hour of the party. Ava had asked for her.
Diane rang the bell and waited on the porch.
Marcus opened the door. She carried a small wrapped box, but her eyes went first to me.
“May I come in?”
“Yes,” I said.
She stepped inside. The last time I had seen her in that doorway, she had tried to keep my children out. Today Ava ran to her and stopped just short of a hug.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Diane said.
Ava hugged her then. Diane held her gently and let go when Ava did.
During cake, Diane stayed at the table with everyone else. She laughed when Eli admitted he had eaten some of the blue sprinkles before they reached the cake. She listened while Ava talked about the book she was writing with her friend.
When Ava opened Diane’s gift, she found a small wooden recipe box. Inside were cards for the star pancakes and the other things they used to make together. Most of the cards were blank.
“I thought you could add your own recipes,” Diane said. “You can change mine too.”
Ava read the pancake card twice. “Can we make these next Saturday?”
Diane looked at Marcus and me.
“Here,” I said. “We can all have breakfast.”
Ava smiled. It was the easy smile I had missed during those first frightening weeks.
After the guests left, Marcus and I cleaned up while the children played in the living room. I found Diane’s card for Ava propped beside the recipe box. It said only that she loved her, was proud of the brave and kind person she was becoming, and was grateful to be invited to celebrate.
There were no conditions in it.
Marcus came up beside me carrying two plates. “You okay?”
“I am.”
He set the plates down. “I know I said sorry, but I want to say this too. When you told me what Mom was doing, I should have trusted what you saw sooner. I hear you now.”
I took his hand. “I know you do.”
His shop was doing well. We still had hard weeks. June still woke at night, and Eli still left his shoes where someone could trip over them. Marcus and I sometimes disagreed in tired voices over the dishes. Then we talked, apologized, and tried again.
I no longer worried that a hard week meant someone else could decide whether we belonged together.
Ava appeared in the doorway with the recipe box tucked under her arm.
“Dad, Mom, come see.”
Eli had built a house out of couch cushions. He had made five spaces inside, one for each of us. June sat in the middle, clapping at nothing and making everyone clap back.
I crawled in beside her. Marcus squeezed in after me, though he nearly knocked down the roof. Ava caught the cushion before it fell, and Eli shouted instructions until we were all laughing.
“Everybody here?” he asked.
“Everybody,” Marcus said.
Ava tucked the recipe box safely in a corner and rested her head on my shoulder. June reached for my hand. I kissed her fingers, then looked around at the faces pressed close to mine.
No one had to stand outside our door.
May you like
I had my children against me, Marcus beside me, and a home where we could speak the truth and be heard. Ava looked up and smiled with her whole face.
For the first time since that night on the porch, I knew she felt safe here too.
