Page 63 of Left Behind

“Yes! New clothes! I never had new ones before. Corina shopped at the army.”

Wiley frowned. “The army?”

Ava nodded. “Miss Mattie says it’s where they save souls and worn-out clothes.”

“Ah…the Salvation Army,” Wiley muttered.

“Yes, that’s the one,” Ava said.

Corina Dalton’s soul sure need saving, Wiley thought, but remembered he’d already called the woman an ass. There was no purpose in mentioning she was on the road to hell as well.

“Well, since we’re making new rules, we won’t be shopping there anymore, if that’s okay with you.”

Ava nodded. “It’s okay,” she said and slid out of his lap. “Pinky can help carry.”

“Works for me,” Wiley said, and handed her the little stack with her new panties. “You two can carry these.”

Ava’s eyes widened as she felt the silky garments.

“They’re so soft,” she whispered.

“No whispers, unless needed, and you’re right! They are soft,” he said.

He grabbed the rest of the clothes and did a march step out of the room, with Ava right behind him, mimicking his every move.

For Ava, the process of filling up her dresser drawers was like burying treasure. And it was all hers to wear when she wanted. She hadn’t thought of Conway, or Corina, in hours. Not since Bubba promised he was keeping her. Ava didn’t know the word trust, or understand its meaning, but without realizing it, she was learning that it did exist.

Wiley had signed up for the Disney Channel while she was sleeping so they could watch movies together and then found a channel on TV that aired nothing but cartoons.

“I’m going to finish making supper,” he said. “You and Pinky can watch TV together for a bit, okay?”

She had already zeroed in on the screen and just nodded.

He iced the cooled cinnamon rolls and put some pasta on to boil. When he peeked in later to check on her, she had all of her new stuffed toys lined up on the couch, and she was sitting in the middle of them with Pinky in her lap, still glued to the screen. When he heard her giggle and then laugh out loud, he smiled. Now he knew what her laugh was like, and he walked away.

Supper was a success. Ava liked Wiley’s spaghetti better than spaghetti in a can. He took a picture of her at the table slurping up a noodle, with spaghetti sauce on her chin, and sent it to Shirley with a message.

Ava likes s’gettie.

He got a text back in a couple of minutes with a happy face and a whole row of heart emojis.

“Are you too full for dessert?” Wiley asked.

Ava had been eyeing the cinnamon rolls all through the meal and shook her head.

“No, Bubba. I saved room.”

He pushed the plate toward her. “You pick out the one you want,” he said, again making the point that she had choices.

She took the one nearest her with the most icing, bit, chewed, and swallowed.

“Yum.”

“So, they’re good?” Wiley asked.

She nodded.

“Good. Then I’ll have one, too,” he said. “Hmm, I don’t know which one I should choose.”

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