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“It is a dream. A dream come true,” I whispered with a wink.
∞∞∞
Saturday dawned bright, sunny, and a bit warmer than the night before, and as a wheelchair user, I was glad for it. Once we finished our tour with Dawson and Henry, Hazel and I made the tough call to send everyone home around midnight. It was cold, and we didn’t want anyone trying to sleep outside unsheltered. Hazel and I got a few hours of sleep before we got up early to help start the breakfast food. It seemed half of Bells Pass returned in the morning for the promised breakfast, and the center was packed for hours with people enjoying the camaraderie of others while they ate. Overall, we were both pleased with what we’d accomplished with the event in such a short time. Hazel had been smiling ear to ear the entire time we drove to Cameron’s tree farm.
“Was last night a dream, or did Henry Thompson decide that getting New Beginnings open sooner rather than later is the right thing to do?”
“I do believe it was real,” she said, laughing as we pulled into the parking lot of Evergreen Acres and found the accessible spaces Becca had mentioned. “When you asked Dawson to talk to anyone who may ask about being housing insecure, I had no idea he’d make such an impact. He’s incredibly well spoken in a way that tells you he’s educated but also struggling. He’s living in the trenches even if he’s back on home soil. Besides, we never dreamed Henry would show up, much less engage with anyone.”
“That,” she agreed with a nod before she glanced behind us at the barn. “Do you think we missed their announcement? We’re later than we thought we would be.”
“Maybe, but no matter when we find out, it will be a surprise.”
“True, okay, let me grab the chair.” She hopped out of the SUV and pulled the chair out of the rear hatch. We’d fallen into the habit that if she rode shotgun, she put the chair in the far back rather than take it apart. Since it was winter now, it did keep the interior cleaner and dryer.
Once I was in it with Star beside me, we followed the path to the store. “This is my first time out here, but Becca and Indigo were right. Everything is relatively accessible. The place is packed, too, which is a testament to what they’re doing.”
“I’m surprised it’s so busy after everyone was out so late last night and then back for breakfast this morning.”
“Hard to resist the lure of a great reveal,” she teased. “Will it be a boy or a girl? What’s your bet? Better tell me now in case we get in there and the question has already been answered.”
“I’m no expert at this, but my gut says boy,” I answered, slowing the chair as we neared the door. “What say you?”
“Girl. I feel like that’s what she’s got in there.”
I hit the door opener and smiled. “No time like the present.” Once the door was open and Star was clear, I rolled in, only to stop in my tracks at the scene before me.
The store was an old barn they’d remodeled into one of the most incredible spaces I’d seen in Bells Pass. Handcrafted items like blankets, candles, and home goods lined the shelves. A sitting area near the fireplace was packed full of kids and their parents listening to a young man read a story. He alternated using silly voices that made the kids giggle while their parents looked on in happiness.
“Looks like we haven’t missed it yet!” Hazel said with excitement.
Ivy spotted us and jogged over, hugging us both silently since the story was still being read. “You made it! We thought you might be tired and stay home. We would have understood.”
“We wouldn’t miss a chance to celebrate with our friends,” I said, squeezing her hand. “This is one of those first times you don’t want to miss. The first baby and the first time you find out boy or girl.”
“I’m so glad you made it. Unfortunately, there’s no time to decorate a cookie, but you still have time to make a guess!” She was practically vibrating with excitement as she bounced up on her toes.
“Boy,” I said, while Hazel followed it with ‘girl.’
“A split decision. Who will be right?” she asked in a silly, spooky voice.
“You must know, right?” Hazel asked, pointing at the cake sitting on the table. “You had to make the cake.”
“Nope, Mel is the only one who knows. She’s the cake decorator and the keeper of the secret. She’s lording it over my head too!” Ivy’s sentence was punctuated with a foot stomp that made me laugh.
“Good thing the time has almost come,” I said, motioning at the circle of kids who were finishing the final actions of the story.
Ivy clapped and grabbed Hazel’s shoulders. “I have to run and get ready to take the pictures. I’m the only one Becca allows to do that, so no phones, okay?” We both nodded, and she smiled. “Stick around after the cake is cut, and I’ll give you a tour.”
“We’ll be waiting,” I assured her as she galloped off to the cake table as the rest of the kids and parents surrounded it.
Becca and Cameron walked to the table, hand in hand, to stand behind the cake.
“Gosh, they look so happy, don’t they?” Hazel asked as they prepared to cut the cake. “The way Becca tells it, Cam rescued her from a living hell. The way Cam tells it, he didn’t start living until he met her.”
It struck me that I sat firmly in both camps. Hazel had rescued me not from a proverbial life of hell but from an abstract one of loneliness, sadness, and anger. As much as I hated to admit it, I didn’t start living until I met her. Not knowing what to say, I simply smiled up at her momentarily before turning my attention back to the cake table.
“Let’s do a show of hands,” Cameron said, standing before the cake in the shape of a baby t-shirt. Half of the shirt was blue, and the other half was pink. “Who thinks it’s a boy?” In the most comical fashion, hands went up and down in a wave of indecision. “Who thinks it’s a girl?” he asked as Becca laughed hysterically next to him.
