I could almost hear her telling me I was protesting way too much. I knew I was. This whole thing had thrown me for so much of a loop I didn’t know up from down.
Katty pushed the door the rest of the way open, swiveling her head left and right. Her gaze landed on me, and she zoomed straight for my legs. I bent down and caught her, lifting her into my arms for a hug. Like a little monkey, she wrapped her arms and legs around me, squeezing tight.
“Oooh, that’s a good hug,” I cooed, rubbing my nose in her curls. “I needed that.”
“Aunt Barb and Benny are here,” she whispered, like it was a big secret.
“I know. I saw.” I glanced up at Ben as I kissed the side of her head. He was hovering beside the door, appearing biggerthan I remembered. From the way he twisted his hands together, he might have been nervous too. “Did you have a good day at school?”
“Yep.” She squirmed until I let her down. “Aunt Barb, show Mama what I made.”
My aunt raised a steely gray eyebrow. “Is that how we ask, Kateryna?”
Katty huffed, warring with her inner rebel, but she reined it in and tried again. “Please show Mommy what I made,please?”
My eyes met Ben’s, watching the scene with unfiltered confusion and fascination. Maybe a little fear too. Aunt Barb had that effect on a lot of people. It was partly why she and my father hadn’t been close until the end. If Ben had been here—had seen all the ways she’d taken care of him and made his passing as peaceful as possible, he’d understand why I adored her to the depths of my soul. She could be scary, but mostly, she was a serious, no-nonsense woman who had come to love Katty and me in her own way.
My aunt nodded curtly and opened Katty’s backpack, pulling out a pile of colorful construction paper. “Kateryna’s teacher said she spent her free time at the art station today. She drew all of us pictures.”
“Wow, really?” I took the papers from her, already smiling. Katty wasn’t really an artist. Most of the time, she liked to be on the move. When she wasn’t, she settled down with Play-Doh or blocks. Getting a picture from her was a rare treat. “Let’s see.”
She took the stack from me and carefully sorted them, passing one to each of us. Kylieooohedandahhhedover hers, Aunt Barb thanked her formally, and Ben stared at his like it was the most priceless piece of art in the world.
“Here, Mommy.”
I took the piece of purple construction paper and studied the drawing. Two figures in the foreground—one tall, one short—both wearing glasses. Clearly, they were meant to be the two of us. Then, in the background, was a smaller figure, with brown curlicues around its head.
“Is this Ben?” I asked.
Katty nodded proudly. “Yes. Benny, show Mommy—” She stopped, correcting herself. “Please show Mommy your picture.”
“Um…okay.” He looked up from the art our daughter had made with bleary eyes and crossed my small living room in three strides. “She drew this for me.”
The crack in his words brought my attention to his face. He was studying the picture again, so I did too. There were three figures on this one too, but the arrangement was different. Katty was in the middle, her stick arms attached to mine on one side and Ben’s on the other.
Yesterday, after the playground, he’d walked us to my car, and she’d planted herself between us, taking our hands—just like the picture.
Katty pushed up on her toes to point at her artwork. “That’s me, my mommy, and Benny. Playground friends.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said, my eyes lifting to Ben’s. They were shining bright and color had suffused his cheeks. I couldn’t stop from smiling at him. “Looks just like you, right?”
“Yeah.” He took the picture back, clutching it possessively. “It’s uncanny. I’m going to have to frame this.”
From the doorway, Aunt Barb grunted. “Kylie, let’s hit the road. Leave these three to their boo-hooing.”
“Mooom,” Kylie groaned, unfolding herself from her chair, “it was just getting interesting.”
“Can it,” my aunt snapped. “Get a move on.”
Kylie rolled her eyes, but absolutely got a move on. “Nice to see you again, Ben. I’m glad you finally got your thumbs and brain to work together.”
The corners of his eyes twitched. “Thanks for your help with that. I was always dropping things and look at me now.” He waved the paper around. “No problem.”
That made her laugh on her way to ruffle Katty’s hair. “All right. Have fun with Mama and Ben. See you later, Tootsie Roll.”
Katty hugged her hard and fierce. “Bye, Ky-Ky.”
As soon as they were gone, Katty asked Ben to check out her bedroom. He looked to me, making sure it was okay, and I waved them off, needing them both out of the room so I could work through the pressure squeezing my lungs.
