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The minute I gave her the bunny, she took an instant liking to me.
She still doesn’t know it’s not her original bunny.
Beth’s cuts are healing, and her face is taking its natural shape again. She’s settling here. The women have welcomed her with open arms, as they do with everyone.
Hannah looks up at me as I take a mouthful of lasagne. “Mom says you’re going to a princess ball. You should wear your hair like Elsa.”
“You think?”
“Uh, huh. Or put curls in it.”
I much prefer the curls idea.
“Will you put curls in your hair too?”
She frowns. “I’m not going to a ball.”
Either am I. It’s a charity auction, but I don’t correct her.
“Hannah,” Beth scolds. “Leave Claire alone to eat her dinner.”
I wave my hand. “She’s fine.”
Hannah rolls her eyes, and we get back to our hair conversation as the rest chatter.
Amy pokes her head in. “When we were young, our mama called her Rapunzel.”
Hannah’s eyes light up. “I’m cutting all my hair off, you know?”
I clear my throat, my head suddenly aching like she threatened to cut mine. Hannah’s hair is long too, and I remember how protective I was over it as a child.
Okay, I still am.
“Why?”
Beth explains. “She wants to donate it to a charity that makes wigs for children with cancer. A girl in her class did it. When everything settles again, I’ll bring her to the hair salon.”
Wow!
This little girl is braver than I’ll ever be.
“That’s amazing.”
“We’ll see. She loves her hair too much. I’ll be surprised if she goes through with it.”
“Will too, Mom,” Hannah whines, offended.
You go, girl.
Beth looks down at my fingers and laughs. Instinctively, I’ve started twirling the ends around my hand. “Don’t worry, Claire. You can keep yours.”
Thanks.
Hannah turns to eat her dinner while still sitting on my lap. Amy leans into me as I finish the braid.
“Does he always look at you like that?”
Confused, I whisper, “Who? Like what?”
