Page 46 of More With You

I burst into rapturous applause, supported by Ms. T and Ben once Grace says, “The end.” At my side, Grace beams with pleasure and closes the book. She looks at me shyly. “Did you really like it?”

“I loved it, Grace. Best book I’ve ever listened to.” My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide. It’s a shock to my system, knowing I’m not forcing it. That smile is there because it wants to be, and no one could be more surprised than me. As it turns out, Grace is easy to be around.

“ Do you like coffee, Summer?”

“I do.” I rattle what’s left of my iced coffee.

She frowns. “It doesn’t taste nice. I had a sip of Daddy’s. Horrible.” She sticks out her tongue and picks up her orange juice, taking a big gulp. “Orange juice is my favorite.”

“They drink a lot of coffee in Italy, don’t they? Did you like Italy? What did you see while you were there with your grandpa and grandma?” I steal a glance at Ben, overwhelmed by the look in his eyes. There’s a glisten there, as if he’s on the verge of tears, but he’s smiling wider than I’ve ever seen.

Grace sighs gravely. “Grandpa says that’s why they talk fast. Too much coffee,” she explains, as if she’s the primary voice on Italian culture. “I saw lots. I saw Romans. They had big swords and they did lots of fighting. I saw… um… what’s the word, Daddy? The broken things.”

“Ruins?” Ben prompts.

“Yes, ruins! I saw them. I saw the sea. I did swimming. I like the sea. Both seas.”

I frown. “Both seas?”

“The Italy sea and the sea here. Oh, and I made sandcastles. I drew lots. Do you want to see?”

Of course, I nod. If a kid offers to let you see their pictures, you never say no, and it’s a duty to tell them it’s the best artwork you’ve ever seen. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pink splotch on a piece of paper, with a few wiggly limbs branching off.

“Daddy, can we show Summer?”

Ben swallows thickly. “Of course, Duckling, but your pictures are all at the house. We’ll have to show her another time. Would you like that, Summer?” There’s hope in his eyes, and I’m not going to be the one to crush it.

“Very much.” I turn my attention back to Grace, in case that look in Ben’s eyes turns my own hope into bittersweet tears. “Why does your daddy call you ‘Duckling,’ Grace? Is it your nickname?”

Grace puts her finger to her lips. “Don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret. I’m a swan, but no one knows.”

I smile and mouth back, “She’s adorable.”

“Isn’t she?” He beams from ear to ear.

“Are you having secrets?” Grace narrows her eyes. “It’s rude to whisper.”

Ben breaks into bright laughter. “Sorry, Duckling. We weren’t having secrets; we were just saying how great your story was, and hoping you might read us another one.”

“Is he telling fibs?” Grace looks to me with suspicion.

I shake my head. “Nope. We really want to hear another story.”

Satisfied, Grace opens up Wispy again, and begins to tell us an entirely new tale. Like her dad, I guess she just has to look at a picture or a scene and inspiration comes in like a tide. Although, I’ll have to see her drawings to find out if she’s got any of her dad’s talent.

* * *

Countless stories later, I realize I’m going to be late for work if I don’t move my ass. The trouble is, I really don’t want to leave. I could listen to Grace for hours and never get bored, but that’s the difference between children like her and adults like me—they don’t have to think about responsibility and dull things like taxes and medical bills.

“I have to go to work now, Grace,” I say apologetically. “You tell such interesting stories; I nearly forgot the time.”

Grace looks disappointed for a moment, and my heart can’t take it. “You have to go? Don’t you want to come to the beach with me and Daddy?”

“I would love to, but I can’t today. Stupid work.” I get up, thinking of all the things I need to do: cycle back to the cottage, pick up my car, grab a fresh uniform, and get to work with maybe a couple of minutes to spare. And my AC still isn’t any closer to being fixed.

Grace sighs. “I understand.”

“We could go to the beach another day? I make really good sandcastles.” The words tumble from my lips before I can stop them. Once they’re out in the open, I find I don’t want to take them back. I can’t think of anything better than spending an afternoon at the beach with Ben and Grace, getting to know her more. After just one morning in her company, I feel… refreshed. Maybe some of her youthful exuberance has rubbed off on me.

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