“She does look like her dad, but when I look at her smile she looks just like you too, my sweet girl,” assures Camillia.
I push back from the table.
“Aunt Judy has my favorite picture of Lucy in an album right over here. Let me show you this one.”
I go get the picture out of the album and hand it to Camillia. She studies it for a few seconds, then looks up at me.
“Isn’t she adorable?” I grin proudly. “She is smiling so big with both of her front teeth gone.”
“She is precious, Shayne. How old was she here?”
“Oh, this was just last year. It says so right on the back. Aunt Judy always put that on every picture she has of Lucy.”
She turns the picture over and lets out a large gasp. Written on the back is ‘Luciana Judith Andrews’ along with the date and her age. Camillia brings her hand up to her chest and with tears in her eyes, she sets the picture down and looks up at me.
“Oh, my dear Shayne… thank you,” she breathes.
“Thank me? For what?”
“For naming Lucy after my son. I cannot imagine how hard this has all been for you, but that right there shows me how much you loved my son when you were choosing her name. I think it is one of the most wonderful things you could have ever done. You have always been so strong and I am just so proud of you. I can’t wait to meet this wonderful little girl.”
Camillia gets up from the table and grabs her purse.
“I must be running along and get myself all cleaned up before I go to work,” she says, walking toward the door. When I get up to let her out, she turns around and hugs me once again.
“Talk to you soon, Shayne. Everything is going to be all right.”
With that she walks out the door, leaving me feeling like maybe, just maybe, there is hope.
************
After clearing the table and washing the coffee mugs, I go freshen up. Just as I exit the bathroom, I hear a car door slam. I run downstairs and out the front door, straight into the arms of my baby.
“Mommy!”
“Oh my God, Lucy!” I hug her fiercely, then set her back down in front of me, my eyes roaming over every inch of her as if I haven’t seen her in years. “Let me look at you! I think you have grown. You’re so pretty. I love your dress.”
“I missed you so much, Mommy. We went on a big airplane and this nice lady gave me and Uncle Adam cookies and peanuts and I got some juice. Oh, and my belly felt funny when the plane started to go in the air, but Uncle Adam held my hand so I wasn’t scared,” she says proudly.
“You’re such a big girl, Lucy.” We walk to the car where Adam is getting out their bags.
“Damn, woman!” he groans. “Did you pack enough stuff for this little munchkin?”
Before I can answer him, Lucy puts her hands to her hips. “Uncle Adam, we’re girls,” she informs him with a giggle. “We have to have a lot of stuff.”
That’s my girl! I think to myself. Helping Adam with our bags, we walk into the house and take Lucy to her room to unpack, but she has other plans.
“I don’t want to unpack yet, Mommy. Uncle Adam told me there is a girl named Heather next door and she is six years old just like me. Can I go outside and see if she wants to play? Please, Mommy?”
“All right, sweetheart,” I agree, giving in to her sweet face. “Let’s go see if she is home. I saw her yesterday and she is so excited for you to play with her. But you have to stay on the sidewalk where we can see you. Why don’t we change your clothes first so you don’t get your pretty dress dirty, okay?”
Tossing one of her suitcases on top of her bed, she digs out a pair of jean shorts, a pink top, and her tennis shoes. Back downstairs, we find Adam has made a light lunch for all of us, so we take it and go outside on the porch to enjoy the day. I let Lucy fill me in on everything I have missed since I left home as she munches on her sandwich and grapes, chattering away. Just as she is finishing her food, Heather comes out of her house and notices Lucy sitting there. Soon, after lots of squeals, hugs, and bouncing up and down, my pretty little girl is off running like the wind to play.
Laying my head on Adam’s shoulder, I sigh as I tell him that Luke is coming over tonight and wants to meet Lucy. I also recount my visit from Camillia and how supportive she is being. Holding back my tears so Lucy doesn’t see me crying, I lift my head from his shoulder.
Adam takes my hand in his. “I can’t tell you what to do or say to Luke, but I want you to know that you are so important to me,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “I will always be here for you and for that little girl over there. But knowing Luke like I do, he’s not going anywhere, Shayne.”