Page 89 of Redd

“What do you mean? How?”

Pulling back, I separated her hair into three sections, and started working the braid. “Well, she's your mom, which means half of you is her.” Tugging and pulling, the braid began to take shape. “So when you look in the mirror, maybe some of those times, it's her looking back.”

Flicking her eyes over her shoulder, the corner of her lip tugged up. “I never thought of it that way.”

“My mother used to tell me that when I was little. She would tell me that if anything ever happened to her or my father, just to remember that they made me. And that means they live on forever in us.”

I watched a shiver scale down her back as she thought about what I said. Her smile grew, cheeks puffing up and crinkling her eyes. “I like that, it makes me feel better.”

“Good, because it's true.” Reaching my arm around to her front, I asked, “Elastic?” Vicki dropped it into my hand and I tied off the end. “There, you're all set.”

“Thank you,” she said softly, turning to face me.

“You're welcome. Anytime you want your hair done, let me know, I can do other braids too.”

Throwing her body forward, she wrapped me in a big hug. I was taken by surprise, so I didn't hug her back right away. Her head pressed into my collarbone, arms squeezing tighter. “Thank you, Bijou. I hope I always have you here.”

My eyes began to water, heart warming and full. Curling my arms around her, I held her. And that hug, that single hug from this young girl meant the world to me.

After everything she had been through, she was still able to love, to be happy, to go on living.

This family might have been small, but it was complete. That was what counted, never having to feel like you were alone.

It wasn't about having a mom and a dad, it was about having people around you that loved you unconditionally.

I loved this little girl.

And right then I knew. . .

I loved her brother too.