Page 64 of Threads of Kindness
Maggie took her daughter’s elbow. “He does,” she said warmly. “And now, I think you’d better turn around and get out of here. You’ve got a dinner date with your husband—and enough time to relax in a bubble bath before you go out.”
“That sounds like heaven,” Susan said. “I can’t remember the last time I did that.” She placed her hand on the doorknob. “If anything goes wrong, or if you need us to pick up Julia, say the word. We’ll come get her anytime.”
“You won’t need to,” Maggie said. “Enjoy yourselves. I’ll drop her off at your house on my way to work tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Mom. Aaron and I couldn’t have asked for a better Valentine’s Day gift.” She opened the door only wide enough to slip out, but the cold air still gusted in and blew me back into the living room.
Maggie and Julia spent the afternoon drawing hearts on pink construction paper as a Valentine card for John. When Julia grew tired of that, Maggie read her an excellent rhyming bookabout a llama, and then they watched a show about a blue heeler puppy. I was so entertained, I didn’t notice until John came home that the sun had set.
Not only did he have the pizza, he entered the house carrying a teddy bear the size of Julia.
“Gramps!” Julia sprang from the sofa and ran full tilt into his arms.
They ate dinner, and Maggie reminded John that Julia’s bedtime was approaching. It had been an unexpectedly engaging day. I was greedy and couldn’t stop myself from wanting more.
“I’ll put away the leftover pizza and wipe the counters,” Maggie said. “It’ll only take five minutes. I know Julia’s excited about playing her favorite game with her grandpa.”
I whipped my head around to look at John.
He took Julia’s hand and led her into the living room. John went down on all fours. “Ready for the animal guessing game?” he asked.
Julia cheered and clapped her hands.
Itwasgoing to happen. I executed three fast spins out of sheer joy.
John raised one arm in front of his face and let out a trumpeting sound.
“El-fant!” Julia screamed.
John grinned. “Very good.” He rocked back on his heels, bowed his arms, and scratched at his sides with his fingertips, while making a who-who-ha-ha sound.
“Monkey!” Julia shouted.
“Can you show me the monkey?” he asked.
Julia leapt to her feet and threw herself into her impersonation.
John’s grin stretched so wide it almost turned him inside out. I grasped the mantel to steady myself.
The game continued through a wide range of zoo animals, farm animals, and domestic pets. Julia knew them all.
Maggie, who had slipped into a chair by the hearth, finally spoke as John was searching his brain for another animal. “We may have a future veterinarian here,” she said, smiling at them.
John grinned. “That’d be fine by me. But I want her to pursue whatever career interests her as an adult.”
Maggie got up and rubbed his shoulder. “I know you do,” she said softly. “And, right now, we don’t need to think about it—because it’s time for a bath and bed.” She held out her hand to Julia.
Julia grabbed the giant teddy bear John had given her and stumbled toward Maggie.
“I’ll carry that upstairs for you,” John said, taking the bear from her.
The three of them joined hands and walked together up the stairs.
I hung back and savored the sight of these people who brought so much love into my house.
CHAPTER 33
“This was the most interesting presentation,” the woman said. “I’m going straight to my attic when I get home and pulling out my great-grandmother’s old machine. I can’t wait to find out more about it!”
