was praying—she didn’t even know if Penny and Willow were religious—and she felt a prick of shame. How could she know so little about the two people she loved most in the world except for Simon? Was she so self-consumed she hadn’t bothered to learn who Penny and Willow
really
were, to learn something about their thoughts, their beliefs, their desires?
Apparently so,
Diana thought dismally, so ashamed of herself she could have cried.
And now I want to shed tears for my failure,
Diana chastised herself.
Do I always think of myself? Tears can’t change the past and tears can’t help the young child who seems to have no one else in the world except for Simon and me. Well, we will take care of her,
Diana told herself fiercely.
We will put our very best efforts into taking care of Penny’s little girl.
“Do you like the dress I’m wearing?” Willow asked, pulling Diana from her reverie.
“I think it’s very pretty. The nurse was certainly thoughtful to bring some of her little girl’s clothes for you to wear home today.”
Willow fingered the blue gingham of her full skirt. “She was nice. She smelled good, too, like vanilla.” She paused. “Do I have to wear this dress until Mommy gets well?”
Diana laughed. “Of course not, Willow. The dress is pretty, but it’s not right for scrambling around on the floor with the cats or playing outside. Besides, the nurse’s little girl might need the dress, so I’ll have to return it soon. I’m going to buy you some new clothes this afternoon. Jeans and cotton shorts and tops. What else would you like?”
“Sneakers. And I want a crown for when I play queen. I had one at my house.”
“Certainly, you may have a crown. Do you remember where your mommy bought it, Your Royal Highness?”
Willow giggled then said helpfully, “At a store.”
“Oh. Well, maybe I can call some stores before I go shopping and see if they carry crowns for queens. And you need underwear and socks.”
“And ’jamas,” Willow said. “The people at the hospital didn’t give my pink ones back. They were my favorites.”
“We’ll get pretty, new pink pajamas. Maybe some blue ones, too. I also have to buy a few things for Clarice, although maybe the fire didn’t reach the bedroom where she kept her clothes.” Diana could have bitten her tongue for mentioning the fire again and said quickly, “You should have seen what she had to sleep in last night, Willow! It was
the
funniest-looking nightgown and robe ever made!”
Diana managed to keep up a riotously exaggerated story about the negligee until they began climbing the narrow, circling roads of Ritter Park. At last she saw the large stucco, red-tiled roof of the Van Etton house sitting on a knoll in the center of its four-acre grounds, both the house and the lawn beautifully maintained and drenched in sunlight. Diana hadnever in her life been so glad to see the place. She pulled her car into the long driveway winding up to the house, parked, and before she’d been able to loosen Willow from her seat belt, Simon rushed out the front door to greet them. He gave Diana a glancing kiss on the cheek, then swept Willow up in his arms.
“How is the most beautiful little girl in the whole wide world?” he boomed.
“I’m real happy to get away from the hospital, and I’m extra happy to see you!”
Willow gave Simon a smacking loud kiss on his jaw and laughed as he swung her around in a circle, holding her away from him. “Do you know who else is staying here with us?” he asked.
“Clarice! Diana told me.”
“Diana, you simply cannot keep a secret,” Simon pretended to scold, winking at her. “Clarice and I have been up since
dawn
waiting on the two of you!”
Clarice emerged through the front door, leaning on the walker Simon must have found for her. She wore the dress she’d had on last night and had pulled her silvery hair back in a French twist. She looked paler and still tired, although she smiled
really
were, to learn something about their thoughts, their beliefs, their desires?
Apparently so,
Diana thought dismally, so ashamed of herself she could have cried.
And now I want to shed tears for my failure,
Diana chastised herself.
Do I always think of myself? Tears can’t change the past and tears can’t help the young child who seems to have no one else in the world except for Simon and me. Well, we will take care of her,
Diana told herself fiercely.
We will put our very best efforts into taking care of Penny’s little girl.
“Do you like the dress I’m wearing?” Willow asked, pulling Diana from her reverie.
“I think it’s very pretty. The nurse was certainly thoughtful to bring some of her little girl’s clothes for you to wear home today.”
Willow fingered the blue gingham of her full skirt. “She was nice. She smelled good, too, like vanilla.” She paused. “Do I have to wear this dress until Mommy gets well?”
Diana laughed. “Of course not, Willow. The dress is pretty, but it’s not right for scrambling around on the floor with the cats or playing outside. Besides, the nurse’s little girl might need the dress, so I’ll have to return it soon. I’m going to buy you some new clothes this afternoon. Jeans and cotton shorts and tops. What else would you like?”
“Sneakers. And I want a crown for when I play queen. I had one at my house.”
“Certainly, you may have a crown. Do you remember where your mommy bought it, Your Royal Highness?”
Willow giggled then said helpfully, “At a store.”
“Oh. Well, maybe I can call some stores before I go shopping and see if they carry crowns for queens. And you need underwear and socks.”
“And ’jamas,” Willow said. “The people at the hospital didn’t give my pink ones back. They were my favorites.”
“We’ll get pretty, new pink pajamas. Maybe some blue ones, too. I also have to buy a few things for Clarice, although maybe the fire didn’t reach the bedroom where she kept her clothes.” Diana could have bitten her tongue for mentioning the fire again and said quickly, “You should have seen what she had to sleep in last night, Willow! It was
the
funniest-looking nightgown and robe ever made!”
Diana managed to keep up a riotously exaggerated story about the negligee until they began climbing the narrow, circling roads of Ritter Park. At last she saw the large stucco, red-tiled roof of the Van Etton house sitting on a knoll in the center of its four-acre grounds, both the house and the lawn beautifully maintained and drenched in sunlight. Diana hadnever in her life been so glad to see the place. She pulled her car into the long driveway winding up to the house, parked, and before she’d been able to loosen Willow from her seat belt, Simon rushed out the front door to greet them. He gave Diana a glancing kiss on the cheek, then swept Willow up in his arms.
“How is the most beautiful little girl in the whole wide world?” he boomed.
“I’m real happy to get away from the hospital, and I’m extra happy to see you!”
Willow gave Simon a smacking loud kiss on his jaw and laughed as he swung her around in a circle, holding her away from him. “Do you know who else is staying here with us?” he asked.
“Clarice! Diana told me.”
“Diana, you simply cannot keep a secret,” Simon pretended to scold, winking at her. “Clarice and I have been up since
dawn
waiting on the two of you!”
Clarice emerged through the front door, leaning on the walker Simon must have found for her. She wore the dress she’d had on last night and had pulled her silvery hair back in a French twist. She looked paler and still tired, although she smiled
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