LITMIR.BIZ

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I saw you sitting out in front waiting—smiling as you came up here. Well, you might smile now, my girl, but I’m warning you. You behave yourself.”

      “Thank you, Aunt Katherine.” Lisa used a demure voice. There would be no shouting today. No ugly talk.

      Right away, she heard a child’s chattering from the kitchen. Her child. Her heart felt like a drum, picking up its beat.

      “Cecily?” Her voice was tentative as she walked toward the kitchen. She paused in the doorway.

      The little girl, distracted by Lisa’s voice, gazed up at her. Too big for a high chair, Cecily was dwarfed in the regular kitchen chair she was sitting in. She’d been eating lunch. A bit of green bean stuck to her chin.

      “We left her in her Sunday dress for your visit.” Aunt Katherine spoke as though she’d made a great sacrifice. She believed in changing clothes the minute a person returned home from church. “This one time.”

      Cecily wore a pink Sunday dress, with tucks and lace and little puffed sleeves. She looked so darling, Lisa thought, as though she’d stepped out of a picture book. But Lisa understood Aunt Katherine’s message. There would be no repeat of this one kind thing she’d done for Lisa.

      “That’s nice of you,” she acknowledged. “Thank you.”

      “We’re just about through,” Uncle Mark said. He lifted Cecily down from her chair, then grabbed a napkin to wipe her chin.

      “Hi, sweetheart.” Lisa bent over, her voice wobbling as she swallowed hard. Don’t rush her. She hasn’t seen you in such a long time. You have to get acquainted with her all over again.

      “Hi,” Cecily said, looking up at her with curiosity.

      Lisa went to her knees to be on the same level. “I’ve come to see you especially. Do—do you know wh-who I am?”

      The little girl shook her head.

      “I’m your m-mommy. You used to live with me, do you remember?”

      Fascinated, Cecily shook her head again.

      “Do you remember the duck song?” Lisa began singing softly, “This little duck, once I knew…”

      A light dawned in Cecily’s eyes. She chuckled as Lisa sang. “Big duck, fat duck, little ones, too…”

      Cecily laughed with glee. Lisa smiled too, elation filling her, and kept on singing. When she got toward the end, Cecily sang “Quack, quack, quack” right along with her.

      “Of course, you remember,” Lisa said, laughing, the tears streaming down her face.

      “Why are you crying?” Cecily asked. “Do you have a boo-boo?”

      “No, sweetie, I’m just happy to see you,” Lisa explained. Unable to help herself, she gently brushed the curls from Cecily’s forehead. Her little girl talked so much better now than when she’d left. In complete sentences.

      Then she rose and pulled a tissue from her pocket to wipe her eyes.

      “Why don’t you go into the front room now,” suggested Aunt Katherine, not unkindly for a change.

      “Yes, let’s do that,” Lisa agreed. Brightly, she hoped, for Cecily’s sake.

      She held out her hand to her daughter. “I have a little gift for you.”

      Cecily hesitated, then placed her small fingers in Lisa’s. They felt so soft and tiny. Lisa could feel each little one.

      When they reached the front room, Lisa sank down on the edge of the sofa, where she’d dropped her package when she came in. Cecily leaned against her knees, and the contact with her little body nearly sent Lisa into tears again. She held the bunny out for Cecily.

      A squeal greeted the offering. “Bunny!”

      Cecily inspected the stuffed animal while Lisa inspected her. Her curls were a soft ash brown, her skin rose-colored. She had Lisa’s eyes, and delicate hands like Lisa’s mother. Had this glorious child come from her? She’s a gem…a beautiful gem, Lisa thought.

      After a few moments, Lisa handed her the book she’d also brought. Cecily tore at the wrapping paper. “A book!”

      Cecily cuddled close beside her on the sofa, hugging the bunny, while Lisa read to her.

      By the time Lisa’s visit was coming to an end, Cecily’s eyes were drooping. Lisa didn’t have the heart to keep the little girl awake any longer. She carried the child to bed, helped her out of her dress, then tenderly tucked a light blanket over her. Cecily’s eyes closed. Finally, Lisa knelt on the floor to watch her sleep.

      She sat that way for ten long minutes.

      “Time to go.” Aunt Katherine had been very generous. She hadn’t interfered with the visit.

      “I know.” Lisa didn’t move.

      “Lisa…”

      “Yes, I’m going.”

      She rose, gave Cecily one last gentle kiss, then marched out. “I’ll be back Thursday afternoon.”

      Aunt Katherine’s voice took on its usual caustic tone as she followed Lisa toward the front door. “Yes, I expect you will. But be on time, please. And you can’t spoil the child by bringing her presents each time you come. That’ll have to stop.”

      Lisa stopped walking. She slowly turned to stare at Aunt Katherine. The woman would never cease trying to run Lisa’s life. And she wanted permanent custody of Cecily?

      Aunt Katherine had said nothing further about the custody issue. Maybe she’d dropped the idea.

      Lisa clamped her mouth on a sharp retort. If she wasn’t careful, her aunt’s vindictive attitude could be catching. But now was not the time to challenge her.

      “I’ll stop after a time, Aunt Katherine. You are quite right, Cecily would come to expect them. I won’t spoil her.”

      The older woman stared at Lisa with suspicion. She didn’t seem mollified by Lisa’s quiet capitulation. It only made her leery.

      Keep calm…give her a reasonable answer….

      Lisa cleared her throat and continued. “But just now, I want to give my daughter everything I can. I’ve been apart from her for eighteen months. I’ve missed eighteen months of her life. Can’t you understand, Aunt Katherine? I can afford only little gifts now. I can’t give her a home, or food, or clothing or…or…the things you’ve given her for those eighteen months. You needn’t be jealous.”

      “I…jealous?” Aunt Katherine’s mouth set in hard lines, and her voice became icy. “You mistake me, my girl. I am not jealous. What have I to be jealous about? But I warn you, Lisa. Don’t give Cecily any more presents. It will be hard on the child when you stop. And I’ll throw them out if you do.”

      Throw them out? Aunt Katherine would do it, too. She could be that mean, never giving a thought to how it might affect Cecily.

      Lisa had to be careful not to give her aunt further reason to fight her return.

      “All right, Aunt Katherine.” Lisa kept her tone even. She’d made a mistake in implying jealousy. Her aunt didn’t admit to such an emotion in herself. “I’ll…see you Thursday.”

      Giving in to Aunt Katherine’s demands galled Lisa. Just as in the old days, it would be hard to keep her anger down. But she must behave with the utmost care now. She didn’t dare stir her aunt to greater ire.

      Yet Aunt Katherine’s threat lingered.

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