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Levi asked no one in particular, “Do I have to wear makeup?”

Andrew got a rotten grin. “WorriedAlyssawill find out?” He started making kissy sounds, and Levi’s cheeks flushed just like his mom’s always did.

With a growl, he said, “I’m throwing your glow-in-the-dark fingernail polish away while you sleep.”

The color drained from Andrew’s face. “You wouldn’t dare.”

The makeup artist, a younger woman with dark hair and olive skin, said in a British accent, “This makeup is mainly to even out your skin tone and make sure there isn’t any extra shine since Pascale uses flash photography.”

The boys stopped arguing instantly.

As the makeup artist got started on Levi, Cora flipped her hair over her shoulder, looking at me and whispering loudly, “They always fight like this. You’ll get used to it eventually.”

I had to chuckle at her explanation. “I had three younger siblings, so I’m pretty used to it already.”

Cora said, “I keep trying to talk Mommy into giving me a little sister so we could have two girls and two boys. It’s only fair. But she said no.” Her little lips stuck out in a pout.

Andrew leaned over the arm of his chair, brown hair falling in his eyes. “You know, Cora, babies are a pain. When you were born, you just cried all the time and poop came out the back of your diaper alot.”

After sticking her tongue out at him, Cora faced me again and said, “Mommy told me you grew up on a farm. Can I ride your horses someday?”

An unexpected twinge hit my chest. Hadn’t I always dreamed of raising my own family on the ranch? Teaching them all the things I learned growing up? Now I was so far removed from that lifestyle. Maybe if my parents and I made amends...

“That sounds fun, doesn’t it?” I asked.

She nodded quickly.

“When I was a kid, we used to ride horses to a creek near our house, then tie them on a tree branch and go swimming in the stream.”

“I love swimming!” Andrew said. “Can I come too?”

“That would make me awfully happy,” I answered honestly.

When the makeup artist moved on to Andrew, Levi got up from his chair and walked back to his mom and grandparents. I wished I knew what to say to him to get to know him, but maybe that chance would come with time.

While Andrew got his face done, he asked the woman—her name was Mira—all kinds of questions about doing makeup, especially for special effects. It was fascinating, watching the curiosity light his eyes, seeing how he made Mira smile in a way she probably wouldn’t if she were just working with adults.

I glanced over my shoulder and caught Farrah looking our way. I gestured at Andrew, mouthing,he’s socool.

She tilted her head with a smile I couldn’t quite read. I hoped it was good.

50

Farrah

My heart pounded quickly in my chest.

That thing I missed with Caleb—sharing moments over my kids?

Gage and I just had that moment. And it was like... all that fear I’d been holding on to about my kids not liking him or him not appreciating them... it evaporated.

I knew it would take time for them to form a relationship. Heck, it usually took me a few months after giving birth to fully know and love my babies, and I was their own mom. But still, I could see the future playing out. And now, instead of being afraid that it wouldn’t work out, I worried it would work out too well and that, if the day came, saying goodbye to Gage would tear me apart.

Mom bumped my arm, whispering, “Seems like Cora’s really taken a shine to him.”

Her hair stylist, a man name Pierre, reminded Mom to sit still.

A smile played along my lips as I looked from Mom to Cora. She was using a makeup brush to “help” Mira apply powder to Gage’s face. “He’s good with them. Which is surprising because he doesn’t have any nieces or nephews.”