Page 23 of A Taste of Grace

“Daddy doesn’t fix hair that good. Ariel and Nene make fun of me.” Esther poked her lips out.

My heart dropped as I recalled my own childhood experiences. I’d been loved hard by my parents and been given nice things, but that often brought unwanted attention. People made fun of me because my mother sent me to school with the prettiest Shirley Temple curls every day. Some said I thought I was better than they were when my mother dressed me like a doll. I couldn’t blame her. I was her miracle child. My grandparents said I carried light and favor on my life, butit made me feel uncomfortable. Only as an adult did I realize how judgmental and petty people could be about situations they didn’t understand.

“A lot of daddies aren’t great at doing hair, but they do a lot of other things well. And you should never be ashamed of his good efforts. No matter how your hair is styled, it’s beautiful, and you have a heart of gold.” I squeezed Esther’s little shoulders.

Hannah joined us at the mirror.

“And Daddy’s a great cook. We have the best lunches. He’s funny. Lots of ladies at church like him.”

Really?

“How do you know the ladies like him?”

“They laugh and bring toys and stuff. Daddy looks like this…” Esther scrunched up her face like a bulldog, making me laugh.

“They want to do our hair, but Daddy said no. They won’t be good mamas.” Hannah turned to Esther, who nodded her head up and down in agreement.

“Why don’t you want them?’

Hannah and Esther looked at each other and remained silent.

“You can tell me.”

Hannah spoke up.

“They want Daddy, not us. Mamas like their kids, right?”

My heart fell again. Did Caleb know his children were being bullied by other kids and that those messy women were talking trash about them? I stared at the girls, my heart full at how kind and thoughtful they were. They loved their father so much that they probably confided in each other, thinking they were protecting him. In that moment, I pictured how amazing they would be as adults, caring, generous women who could do anything they set their minds to. I had an urge to protect them from anyone who treated them poorly. If it were up to me, I’d send those ladies straight to hell with gasoline drawers.

I wanted to probe more about how much they confided in their father but felt it was wrong for me to gossip about him. If the girls wanted to tell me more information, however, I would listen willingly. Maybe I would chat with Caleb about my concerns later.

“Do you have a husband?” Esther asked with an innocent look on her face.

“Or little girls?” Hannah halfway turned around, a look of concern on hers.

“I don’t. It’s just me living by myself. I’ve never been married.”

Hannah beamed, revealing an adorable dimple before turning around to dry her fingernails.

“You’re a nice lady. Do you want to be our mommy?” Hannah’s gave me a serious look.

“Are you an angel?” Esther asked the question before I could respond to Hannah.

Their innocent voices made me smile. I brushed the right side of Hannah’s wavy hair, trying to figure out how to answer such an unusual question.

“I’m not an angel, but I don’t believe in accidents. I think I’m meant to be in your lives. Let’s start by calling me your friend.”

“But I want a mommy.” Esther’s narrow shoulders slumped as she poked her lips out.

I turned to her and lifted her chin.

“Whoever God sends as your mommy would be such a blessed woman,” I added quickly. “You girls are so sweet and smart, exactly what a mother would want in daughters.”

The girls smiled at each other, displaying all their little teeth.

“Your nails should be dry, Hannah. Come over and let me see.”

She rose and spread her fingers wide.

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