Page 54 of The Rules We Broke
I scooped her into my lap.
“Will you read me a story and tuck me into bed?” she asked, snuggling against me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I would love to,” I said, looking to her parents for permission.
They both smiled and nodded.
Caroline led me to her room—a bright explosion of personality. Bunk beds with zebra-striped comforters. Walls painted bubblegum pink—except one chalkboard wall covered in doodles. Lots of puppies. Of course.
I couldn’t help but grin.
She handed me three books.Aunt Calliope and Jane in Paris. Aunt Calliope and Jane in Rome.And my newest—Aunt Calliope and Jane in London.
We snuggled up and read them in order, from croissants to Big Ben.
Every giggle. Every gasp. She was laughing at things I’d created—me. It was surreal. Amazing even.
When I closed the last book, she looked up at me, serious. “How come Aunt Calliope wouldn’t let Jane take the crown the Queen wanted to give her for saving the castle?”
I smiled. “Well, Aunt Calliope wanted Jane to know she didn’t need a crown to feel important. Because Jane’s special just by being Jane. It’s what’s inside us that counts.”
She beamed at me, then kneeled beside her bed to pray.
I tried not to laugh when she prayed for puppies. And babies.
Then—
“I pray that Uncle Brady and Miss Ellie will be boyfriend and girlfriend. That would make mesohappy.”
What was I supposed to do with this girl?
She wrapped her little arms around my neck and squeezed. I hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, Caroline.”
“Goodnight, Miss Ellie.”
I reached for the light switch.
“Wait!”
I turned.
“Will you come to show and tell and read to my class?”
“I would love to.”
“Oooo, I can’t wait to tell my friends tomorrow!”
“Sweet dreams.”
I meant it. I seriously loved that girl, and she deserved the sweetest of all dreams. And to think—I could have been her aunt. What a dream that would have been.
Chapter Nine
Iwasupearlythe next morning and on the road, anxious to get to the hospital and be with my aunt before her procedure.
On the drive over, my mind drifted to the night before and the conversation I’d had with Kendra and Benjamin after I put Caroline to bed. I got to hear their love story. It wasn’t a cinematic, love-at-first-sight story. She’d thought he was arrogant. He’d found her obnoxious. But there’d been chemistry. You could still feel it.
They’d kept their relationship quiet—even from Brady—for months. Only after they were engaged, and Amber had exited stage left, did they share the news. That had probably softened the blow. The Jacksons weren’t exactly enthusiastic about pageant winners anymore—two had walked away from their sons. Kendra’s helping Brady recover physically didn’t hurt either. Eventually, his parents had given their blessing.
