Page 106 of Finding Mercy

This right here is a moment for the memory books. She’s laughing, smiling, and as far as she’s concerned, she’s wearing the most beautiful dress in the world.

“Can I wear this every day?”

Everybody laughs.

“That’s just for the wedding,” Elle says.

I add, “But, we’ll have a picture taken on our wedding day and put it in your bedroom so you can always see it.”

She beams at me, “My friend Sophie at school is adopted. She had an adoption party and wore a pretty dress. Maybe I could wear it for my adoption party.”

I can’t help it, I take her into my arms, “I think that would be lovely, sweet girl.”

I swallow the lump in my throat and hope we can make this happen for her.

We let her wear the dress for a few minutes before telling her to get changed. Eventually, I had no choice. She’d stay here all day if it meant keeping the dress on.

“Okay, we have to get you changed, we have a spa appointment for your nails.”

The swanky spa we are going to is two doors down, so we walk. Keeping my promise, I look around and stay aware of things around me. We go into the Luxe Boutique Nail and Spa, and all sit at different stations to get our nails done. I instruct Maria, who is doing Ivy’s nails, that it needs to be a neutral color. Pink is okay, light, absolutely no red. I’m pretty sure Liam would lose his shit.

She decides on a pinkish pearl color which is fine with me and quite pretty. This place is amazing, when we finish our manicures, we start our pedicures. They bring lunch while we have our pedicures. It’s just sandwiches and pickles, but it’s delicious. Ivy loves the pickles and asks for everyone. Look, I love the girl, but she’s not getting my fucking pickle. Ivy is enamored with the lady beside her, she’s getting a Fish Pedicure. Literally, a bunch of fish known as Doctor Fish are in the water with her feet. They should call it a Kardashian Pedicure. Anyway, it’s a little much for me. I’m not putting my feet in fish water. Ivy won’t leave the lady alone.

“Does it hurt?”

“Oh my God, that one is going to bite you.”

“Does it tickle?”

“Can they smell feet?”

“Do you know fish can’t live out of water?”

“Ivy, would you leave her alone?” I said.

She laughs, “It’s okay.”

“What if the smell of her feet kills the fish?”

“Oh my God, Ivy, stop.”

Well, that’s one less spa I can go to in the future. But Elle and Isabella think it’s hilarious.

“We should all get fish pedicures the day before the wedding,” Elle says.

I shake my head, “Let’s not and say we did.”

Elle appears distraught, “You’re the oldest young person I’ve ever met.”

“Hey now, I have done adventurous things.”

Isabella laughs so hard she snorts, “Yeah, your best friend's dad.”

I give Isabella a look, I don’t want Ivy hearing that. We finish and walk out to the car to go home.

I glance at Elle, “Can you put Ivy in the car for me?”

“I’d love to,” she yells as she tickles Ivy.

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