Page 78 of Meant to be Falling
“It does look great,” Mason says, reaching over and tugging on one of the braids.
Bodhi nods, trying to deflect some of the attention away from himself. “I was a little rusty,” he admits and Holland smiles. “It took us a couple of tries to get it going.” His expression is full of affection as he returns her smile.
“Well, looks like he figured it outandy’all got the special treatment, I see,” Mason remarks, his hand holding my good one. “Board games, brownies, and braids.”
“I didn’t get a braid,” Beck says just to be a pain, but Mason smirks.
“Did you ask for one? I mean, you don’t have enough hair for what your sister got, but I think we could make something happen for you.”
Beck snorts. “You know how to braid too?”
“Heck yes, brother. That’s how you impress the ladies.” He sends me a wink as my son chuckles and Holland dissolves into a fit of giggles.
I know that Mason will tell me later the reason why the man sitting on the floor with my children knows how to do a complicated braid. He’s made light of it, but I’m sure there’s more to the story.
But even if there is, these two men have shown me and my kids so much kindness, dropping everything to help, shifting a potentially traumatic situation into something lighter.
Fun.
Sliding off the couch and onto the floor, Mason pulls a game piece from the box and looks around. “Whose turn is it?”
“Bodhi toldus that his sister taught him how to braid. Isn’t that cool? And that as he got moved around, he learned harder ones,” Holland says, oblivious to all the things Bodhi had left unsaid.
And I’m thankful, but not because he should be ashamed or that I don’t want the kids to know about their past. Tonight was chaotic with me cutting my hand and going to the hospital, and if or when Bodhi and Mason are ready to share those details, I want to make sure they have our undivided attention.
“I think that’s amazing,” I say simply, and she nods as I pull a blanket up and tuck it around her. “It’s always really nice when we can do something for someone, especially if it just helps them in a small way. I’m sure that some of those girls having their hair done made them feel so much better.”
“Mommy, does it mean that Bodhi and Mason don’t have a family?” Her eyes are wide as she asks the question, her littlearms wrapped tightly around the stuffed unicorn she’s had since she was a baby.
She looks so innocent in this moment, and I give her a soft smile as I say, “I think the most special thing about Mason and Bodhi is that they created their own family. And now that they’re grown up, they can choose to add people to their family even though they’re not technically related.”
Holland seems to think this over, her brows scrunched and adorable. “Like friends?”
“Like friends,” I confirm, brushing my hand over her cheek.
“Do you think he’s sad?”
“I’m not sure,” I say honestly. “But maybe what he needs most is a little extra love. Do you think we can give that to him?”
She nods and smiles. “When you marry Mason, Bodhi will be my uncle, right?” I open my mouth and then close it, realizing that thought isn’t nearly as terrifying as it should be.
Belatedly, I also realize she saidwhennotif…
“Yes,” I say, swallowing audibly, because it’s still a big leap from divorced single mom to wedding bells and happily ever after.
But already, the two men who’d saved the day had done more than justshow up.They made us better—stronger. We weren’t broken, but we weren’t whole either.
“Cool.” She yawns as she snuggles into the covers. “Can I wear my purple dress tomorrow?”
“Sure, baby, anything you want.”
“It will look good with my braids.”
“Yes, it will,” I tell her as I press a kiss to her forehead.
She’s practically asleep by the time I make it to the door to turn off the light, and my gaze lingers on her hair. My heart warms with affection as I think of the broody man, who would in fact be considered her uncle if Mason and I got married.
And maybe even if we didn’t.
