Bitter Sweets

through such a horrible ordeal, Christy seemed remarkably open to him.

    “Are you really my mommy’s big brother?” she asked as they sat down next to each other on the picnic bench.

    The adults gathered around, feeling like intruders on this tender occasion, but unable to pull themselves away.

    “I sure am,” he said. “That’s why we all have red hair and brown eyes...and lots of freckles.”

    “Mommy says they’re angel kisses.”

    Brian cast a quick look at Savannah, who felt her heart catch.

    “Then that’s what they are,” he replied, his own voice husky.

    “My mommy’s dead,” Christy said with childlike candor. “Daddy killed her, just like he said he would.”

    “Did you see that happen, sweetheart?” Brian was sliding easily into the role of father; Savannah could tell by the way he held his niece and the gentleness of his caress as he smoothed her hair back from her face.

    They all waited tensely for the girl’s reply.

    “No, he did it in the other room. But I heard the gun go off. It was really loud. And I knew what he did.”

    “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, honey.” Brian kissed her forehead.

    “Then my daddy took me into the woods to this little bitty house. And I thought he was going to hurt me, too, because he got mad and said I looked just like my mommy.”

    Savannah had a quick, terrifying vision of what might have happened if Colonel Neilson hadn’t decided to take care of “his soldier” on his own. It didn’t bear speculation.

    “But my grandpa saved me. He hurt my dad before he could hurt me. I think my daddy’s dead, too, but I’m not sure.”

    She waited, obviously expecting an answer.

    “That’s true, Christy,” Uncle Brian said. “I won’t ever lie to you. He’s dead.”

    She nodded matter-of-factly. “That’s probably good. But my grandpa’s in the hospital.”

    “I know. We’re all praying he gets well.”

    “Me, too. But that lady said I can’t live with him all the time, cause he has to take care of himself and Beowulf.” She nodded to Gran. “She said I might get to live close to Disney World.”

    Brian laughed and reached into his hip pocket, pulling out his wallet. “You sure are. Only a few miles from Disney World. And you’re going to live with her...” He opened the wallet and showed the girl a picture. “She’s my wife, your aunt. And these are my three sons.”

    “ Three boys!” Her mouth fell open and her amber eyes widened. “I always wanted a brother or a sister, but three of them? And they’re all boys!”

    “They all have red hair. Just like you.”

    “And freckles?”

    “Between us all, we probably have a million, billion freckles.”

    Christy laughed. “Our family will look like One Hundred and One Dalmatians! ”

    “Our family.”

    Savannah played the term over and over in her mind for the rest of the day and night, even after she had gone to bed. Having heard those words come from Christy’s lips, she knew she could sleep, trusting that the child would be okay in the end.

    Later that night, about ten o’clock, Brian’s wife had flown in from Orlando to accompany Christy and Brian on their trip to Florida.

    Having met her, Savannah knew that-although she would never take Lisa’s place in Christy’s heart-Mrs. O’Donnell would be a loving and devoted mother to the child.

    “Are you still awake?” Gran asked, sticking her head into Savannah’s bedroom. She was wearing a purple satin robe with a lace shawl collar. A daisy was still stuck behind her ear. She had never looked more beautiful to Savannah.

    “Yep, still awake,” Savannah replied.

    “I just wanted to pop in and remind you...in case you’d forgotten.”

    Savannah grinned. “I hadn’t forgotten, Gran. Really. I’m looking forward to it as much as you are.”

    “Bright and early?”

    Savannah looked doubtful. “How bright? How early?”

    “Dawn-thirty.”

    “Al-l-l-l right. Dawn-thirty.”

    Gran literally shivered with excitement and danced a little jig. “Good night,” she said. “Sleep tight.”

    “And don’t let the bed bugs bite,” Savannah added, finishing off the litany.

    As she cuddled into her pillows, she heard her grandmother strolling back to the guest room, singing, clear and strong:

    “M-I-C.... See you real soon.

    “K-E-Y.... Why? Because we like you!"

    “M-0-U-S-EEEEEE!"