She glanced over at Amanda’s children. They hung close to each other, heads down, enjoying the books. “Want to know what I think? I believe we need both the good and the bad, just like the ocean needs the fluctuating tides.”
“Balance.” Amanda said it barely above a whisper.
“If the tide only ever came in, we would drown. Well, I guess technically we could live on boats, but you know what I mean. When the tide goes out, we get to appreciate the treasures it reveals. And when it comes in, new life is washed ashore. There’s beauty in both.”
“Like your shells.” Amanda’s head cocked slightly to the left.
The metaphor had landed on her the way Maeve had suspected it might.
“Exactly.” Maeve took in a breath of satisfaction.
“If we only had good, we’d never appreciate how good it was. I understand that. But sometimes the bad outweighs the good by so much.” Amanda bowed her head again.
“Sometimes it feels like that. I’ve sure been there, but as the journey continues, you will always find balance. That I promise you. You’re still very young. There is a lot more good coming your way. Be patient, and believe.”
“I’m glad we crossed paths.”
Maeve gulped back an unexpected rush of emotion. “My goodness, you have no idea the joy meeting you and your children has brought me. You know, I never had children of my own.”
“Really? That surprises me. You’re so wonderful with them. Especially Jesse.”
Maeve couldn’t hide her delight. “Hailey is like talking to an adult, if that’s what you mean, but I love deciphering Jesse. He’s such an animated little communicator.”
“He’s a good boy.” Amanda glanced over at her children, a look of love in her eyes.
“You’re a good mother. I can see that.”
“They make it easy.” Amanda stood there quietly.
Maeve started toward the reading garden, not wanting to intrude on whatever was going through Amanda’s mind just then.
A moment later, Amanda fell into step behind her. They walked into the garden, which was really a series of raised flower beds, each containing a tree surrounded by flowers the local master gardeners maintained for the library. Curved cement benches were placed throughout. It was quite cozy, even if it was just a small space between a couple of buildings.
Maeve sat on the bench adjacent to where Hailey and Jesse sat on the ground. They flipped through his book on the bench as if it were a table. Amanda peered over them.
“Hi, Mom.” Hailey turned the page. “I’m telling Jesse all about the story.”
“She used to be able to recite the whole book by heart,” Amanda said to Maeve. “If we tried to end the story early or skip a part, she’d call us out on it.”
“I can picture that,” Maeve said.
Hailey sat back on her heels in a fit of giggles. “I did that?”
“You sure did.”
Hailey reached out and touched the end of Maeve’s big toe. Her eyes lifted, like a frightened doe, as if she hadn’t realized she’d actually done it.
Maeve took pleasure in the precious child’s curiosity. Hailey’s skin was beginning to tan, making her blond hair look even lighter in contrast. Maeve wiggled her toes, and Hailey’s giggle rose into the air like the wings of colorful butterflies, sending waves of delight through Maeve. This is when not having children was the hardest—these magical moments that she’d missed. She’d convinced herself all this time that her marriage to Jarvis had been full in other ways, but at this moment, she was certain there wasn’t anything quite as delightful as that kind of laughter.
Completely uncontrolled. Unpracticed. Unpredictably touching.
Hailey stretched out her leg next to Maeve’s, then pointed her toes. Each tiny toenail had been painted hot pink. It wasn’t a perfect job, although it probably had started out that way. The sand had done a number on them.
“What color polish is on your toes?” Hailey asked. “It’s pretty. So shiny and see-through. Maybe kind of silverish, but not glittery.”
Maeve mused at her intent thought on the subject. “No polish.” She wiggled her toes again, adoring the laughter that it brought on like a light switch. “Naked toes.”
“Naked? What?” She covered her mouth like the word naked was naughty. Perhaps it was, in some contexts. Better to leave that one alone. It had been a long time since she’d been around young children. My, what a treasure. The real kind. Human, breathing, learning, loving. Maeve loved the delight these innocent minds came up with. “I don’t paint my nails.”
“Not your fingers either?”
Maeve extended her hands, showing her. “No ma’am.”
“I’m not a ma’am. I’m just a little girl.”
“Oh you most certainly are. Ma’am isn’t about age; it’s about respect. I respect you, Hailey.”
Hailey sat taller. “Wow. That’s really good, right?”
“Very good.”
“Mommy paints my fingernails and toenails. Sometimes we go to the fancy place with the shaky chairs. It feels good, but it takes so long.” She brushed her hand across her brow. “Hours!” She dropped her hand and the drama. “Is that why you don’t have yours painted?”
Maeve slowly shook her head. There’d been a time when she dressed up her nails for Jarvis, but it had been a constant battle against nature. Then one day as she rushed to repair the chipped color before they went out, he’d said to her, “Couldn’t you be doing something better with your time? I really don’t care whether your toes are decorated.”
It had struck her as so odd. Offended at first, she couldn’t believe he’d have so little appreciation for her attempt to look her absolute best for him. Then he’d pulled her into his arms and said, “I love you just the way God made you. You don’t need to add one single thing.”
She could still remember how much that had meant to her. She loved him even more that day for it.
Maeve looked at Hailey. “Sometimes things are perfect the way they are, even if they aren’t perfect. What do you think?”
Hailey pressed a finger to her
