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I nod. “They’re trying really hard.”
“Is that why she shaved all her hair off, and she wears the scarf on her head?”
“Destiny, that’s rude to ask.” Dillon reprimands his daughter.
“It’s okay. Ally wouldn’t mind.” I set my tea down after I take a sip, which was pretty much the full cup because it’s so small. “The medicine Ally takes makes the hair on her scalp weak. It’s not strong enough to keep her hair in place. She wears the scarf on her head because she’s worried people will look at her funny.”
Her brows pull down as she thinks over what I said. “We wouldn’t look at her funny, would we, Daddy?” She looks at Dillon expectantly.
Dillon smiles at Destiny. “No, baby, we sure wouldn’t.”
She brings her eyes back to me. “And if anyone does, then they’re mean.”
I laugh lightly, amazed at how sweet this little girl is. “And that just shows how awesome you are, Destiny,” I tell her and reach over to ruffle her hair. “A lot of people stare when it’s something different and they don’t understand.”
She huffs and picks up her teacup, taking a dainty sip. “Why did you cut your hair?”
At the reminder, I run my hand over the top of my head, feeling the prickles from the short buzz cut.
“Because I didn’t want Ally to feel like she was alone. I love Ally very much, and when she’s sick or hurt, it makes my heart hurt. When you love someone, you go through the bad times with them. Cutting my hair showed Ally she’s not alone and that I’m with her always, even in the bad times.”
She tilts her head to the side, examining my head for a moment before she turns to Dillon. “Daddy, can I cut my hair like T? I want Ally to know I love her too.”
Dillon’s eyes bug out, and I’m having trouble between laughing and my chest going tight at the incredible way Destiny wants to honor Ally.
Before Dillon can form a response, not that he would be able to—I’m sure he’d defer that question to Ashlyn—Ashlyn hollers from the kitchen, “Dinner’s ready! Destiny, go wash up, please.”
“Okay, Momma!”
Getting to her feet, she dashes down the hallway to the bathroom. Dillon and I get up from the floor.
“Sorry for all of the questions,” he says as he begins collecting the tea set. “She’s very inquisitive.”
“No need to apologize. Being curious is a good thing.” I pick up my cup and both saucers. “She’s a good kid.”
“Yeah.” He straightens, balancing the dishes in one hand. “Thank God Ashlyn interrupted before I had to answer her question on her hair. I don’t think there’s any right answer for something like that.”
I chuckle. “It’s sweet she wants to do it, but I think Ally would have a conniption if Destiny cut all her hair off just to honor her.”
A grunt is his only reply.
We walk into the kitchen just as Ally and Ashlyn set the last dish on the table. Walking over to Ally, I press a kiss against her lips before taking my seat.
“You okay?” I ask.
Her smile lights her eyes. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Destiny comes back a couple of minutes later and plops down in her seat between Dillon and Ashlyn.
As Ashlyn begins to scoop potatoes onto Destiny’s plate, she misses and it lands on the floor when Destiny cheerily informs the table, “I want to cut my hair off like T.”
