Page 9 of Free to Live

“Grandma! Look! It’s Kalie! Hi, Kalie’s Holly!” The little girl bounces on her toes in excitement.

I hold out my hand to the older woman. “Holly Freeman. Ali’s one of my older sisters.”

She smiles. “Denise Bianco.” We shake.

“Denise, I’m ready to check you and Grace out,” Gail calls.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Holly,” Denise says warmly. I smile.

“For me as well. Now, just think, Kalie’s friend, of what you can tell her at school,” I tease her gently. I’m surprised she starts scuffing her shoe on the ground and won’t meet my eyes. “What is it, honey?” I ask gently. I scoot forward so I’m at the edge of my seat.

“My daddy’s a fireman. He says I’m not allowed to play with fire.” Her voice trembles.

I hazard a quick glance up at Denise, whose face is just as bewildered. “Well, that’s a good rule to have, honey. He’s trying to protect you.”

Sad blue eyes meet mine. “But your hair looks like it. And I can’t play with fire. Daddy says so.”

It takes me a moment to put it together. My hair—naturally a mix of dark orange and red hues—likely does look like the forbidden fire to a little girl who is using careful logic. “Well, I’m pretty certain Grandma will make sure your daddy will be okay with you playing with me if you and I are together when you play with Kalie.”

“Grandma?” She tilts her head up. Denise smiles.

“It will be fine, Grace. If it ever comes up, I’ll talk with Daddy.”

“Okay!” Back to being a happy little girl, she leans in and whispers, “I think your hair is really pwetty.”

I whisper back, “I think your hair is pretty too.”

Little pink lips part in surprise.

Gail calls out, “Holly? You ready?” just as Denise says, “It’s time to go, Gracie.”

“Bye, Kalie’s Holly!” Grace calls out as she dashes for her grandmother.

Even as I stand up, I call out, “It was nice to meet both of you.”

They both wave as they leave Shimmer. Gail stands stationary with her hand over her heart as I move closer. “Such a sad story,” she murmurs.

“What is?” I ask.

Shaking her head, she shakes herself loose from her own thoughts. “So, just a trim today?”

Placing a hand on her arm, I squeeze. “Gail, what am I missing?”

“Let’s get you washed up, and then I’ll explain.”

As Gail uses a wet brush on my long hair, she tells me about how Grace lost her mother when she was just an infant. “There was a car accident at the mall. She was hit. Fortunately, Grace was in her car seat already…”

But Gail’s given me enough information to jog my memory. Bianco. Grace. Accident. “Jason was there,” I whisper. “He tried to save the mother.” I lift horrified eyes to her.

Gail gasps.

“It was at Christmas,” I recall. Shaking my wet head, I continue. “The father was just destroyed.”

“Joe’s got a great family, Holly. They’ve really helped him, especially with Grace. He lives for that little girl.”

“I know Jason’s wondered how he’s been over the years.” For all Collyer has a small-town feel, it’s relatively large. And between Jason working in New York and our work events, if we have any free time, it’s usually spent catching up as a family.

Gail shakes her head. “I can’t really say one way or another. I just get little snippets from Denise. But with what he went through, I can’t say he’s better. I know Grace helps though.”