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“Yep.”
“You sure?” He pressed his palm to my cheek. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” I gave him a quick kiss. “We should give Mollie her gift before we go, don’t you think?”
He studied me for a minute before nodding. “I put it on the kitchen table.” I always blushed when that table came up in conversation. “Mollie wants you to do her hair. I can’t make those Princess Leia buns like you do.”
“They’re not Princess Leia buns,” I corrected him; although they were two little buns, these sat higher on her head.
“Whatever. She wants you to do them.”
When I was finished getting myself ready, I headed up the hall, past Will’s office in the extra bedroom, to Mollie’s room. She kept it neat for a six-year-old. She especially loved the window seat where all her stuffed animals sat. She also loved her fish tank, which we got her when we learned she was allergic to dogs.
“Mommy, will you do my hair up again? Daddy doesn’t do it right.”
Even after a year, my heart soared every time Mollie called me mommy, which she did even before she was legally adopted.
“Sure, sweetie.” I sat on the daybed, with her kneeling on the floor in front of me as I put her pretty light brown hair up in two little buns. “Time for breakfast and then we’re going to see your grandma and grandpa.”
She frowned. “I don’t like fireworks. They’re loud.” She covered her ears. While she’d made great gains in school being more social, she was still timid about some things. She would walk with her feet in the water on the beach, but wouldn’t go any higher than her ankles. And she didn’t like loud noises, such as fireworks.
“I know, baby. We’ll go inside if you want.” Hopefully, Will’s and my gift would help. “Let’s have breakfast.”
In the kitchen, Mollie climbed into her chair while Will served her pancakes with raspberries, blueberries and whipped cream.
“Red, white and blue,” he stated.
Mollie laughed. “You’re funny, daddy.”
I got tea and sat down. Will gave me a plate of pancakes and sat across from me with his plate.
“Happy Fourth of July.” He held up his glass of juice. Mollie held up her juice as did I and we all clinked our glasses.
“Mollie, mommy and I got you something.”
“A present?” Mollie’s little blue eyes shone with excitement.
Will handed her the box. “Yes. We hope it will help with the fireworks.”
Her smile faded, but she opened the box taking out the sound canceling earphones. “What are they?”
“You wear them over your ears, and you won’t hear the fireworks,” Will said, helping her put them on.
She took them off and looked at them. “What if they don’t work?”
“Then we go inside like we usually do and turn up the music and dance,” he said matter of factly, without any annoyance or shaming for her fear. Will’s parents and Mollie’s teachers thought he was a little too indulgent or enabling of her fears. Now, as her mom, I knew the instinct to want to protect and always keep your children happy. But I also knew that Will didn’t enable Mollie. He just didn’t push her as hard or try to cajole her like some seemed to think he should. He’d give her tiny-step opportunities to grow, and she’d try them. If they worked, great, if not, he’d look for another option. The music was the trick we used last Fourth of July, which was pretty fun, even though we missed seeing the fireworks. The earphones would be this year’s tiny-step.
The day at Will’s parents was wonderful as usual. They accepted me as one of their own, and were equally as happy to have me adopt Mollie as Will was. It wasn’t unusual for his mother to give me a hug out of the blue and thank me for making Will and Mollie so happy. Of course, I was the one that felt like I’d won the happiness jackpot.
When it was time for fireworks, Mollie put on her earphones, looking afraid, but summoning her courage. Will took her hand and stood with her outside, while his parents and their other guests sat in lawn chairs to watch the show that could be viewed from their home.
When the first crack and then blast of light hit the night, Mollie flinched, but it was at the light, not the sound. I looked to Will, who was studying her. Another went off, and this time she didn’t flinch. He squatted down in front of her and motioned with his head toward the lawn. She raised her hands, and he picked her up.
She sat on his lap, watching the bright reds, whites, blues, greens, and purples light up the night. To watch Will and Mollie together was such a source of joy. I reached out and took his hand, wanting to be a part of them. He leaned over, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing it.
