Page 71 of Left Behind

“Oh, sugar,” she said, and sat down on the side of the bed and pulled Ava into her arms. “You’ll always be safe with us. We’re so happy to have you in our family.”

Ava wanted to believe, but words meant little to her. She was waiting for proof. After they left the bedroom, she saw the rest of the house and decided she liked the idea of having two beds and two pillows. And then Dani took her outside, and the moment Ava saw the two huge shade trees and the bird feeders between them, she was entranced.

“Do those birds live here?” she asked.

Dani nodded. “Some of them live in the trees, and some are just visiting, but they all know they have food here. You’ll have to help me fill bird feeders, too, when you’re here.”

Ava’s voice slid back into that whisper, “I never fed birds before!”

Dani leaned down and hugged her. “Then I’m happy to be the one to teach you how to do it. You can walk all the way to the trees. They’ll fly away for a moment, but then they’ll fly right back. They know we won’t hurt them.”

“I know how to be quiet,” Ava whispered, and moved into the shade, then stood motionless, watching.

Wiley came outside to get them, saw what was happening, and stopped. A huge wave of relief washed over him when he saw the delight on Dani’s face and the awe on Ava’s.

But it was Ava who saw him first and came running to him from across the yard, talking as she went. He caught her in midleap, still talking.

“Bubba! Dani has birds! They live in the trees, and they visit. I’m going to help feed them!”

“That’s awesome! So, you think it’s okay to be here when I’m at work?” he asked.

“Yes, I think it’s good,” Ava said.

Dani was smiling when she caught up. “Little sister is smart,” she said.

Wiley put Ava down and watched her run back to the porch and settle herself in the porch swing before responding.

“How so?” he asked.

“She saw some of the books I laid out in the extra bedroom for her. They’re children’s books, and she can read them. As in, read. Not sounding out words. Not stumbling over some of them. She read two aloud and asked if this school had a library, because her other school did and her teacher let her read lots of books there, because Corina didn’t have anything for her to read at home.”

“Corina is a disaster. That woman can’t even read the writing on the wall,” Wiley muttered. “Thank you for this. It means the world to me, and it will mean the world to Ava, knowing there are people who have her best interests at heart.”

“You’re welcome, Wiley. She’s so lost. When she told me how she makes herself disappear, I nearly lost it. The tragedy of a child feeling the need to be invisible just to feel safe breaks my heart.”

“All she kept saying when we first met was, ‘Corina says I’m a mistake.’ Can you imagine being told that every day of your life?”

“Who’s Corina?” Dani asked.

“Her mother, but Ava never once referred to her as Mother. She just calls her Corina, and right now, her biggest fear is that I’ll give her back.”

Dani sighed. “Bless her heart. Well, she has us now, and maybe those awful memories will fade with time. Thank you for bringing her by. I’m looking forward to having her here.”

“Thank you for jumping into the gap for us. I’m planning a party for this evening so all of you can come meet her in her house. You can let Aaron know, but I’m calling the other brothers and Mom,” he said, then went up the back steps to get Ava. “Tell Dani goodbye, sugar. We’re leaving now.”

Ava slid out of the porch swing and grabbed Wiley’s hand.

“Bye, Dani.”

Dani grinned. “Bye, honey,” she said, then walked them through the house and waved goodbye from her front porch as they drove away.

“Are we going home now?” Ava asked as she settled Pinky in her lap.

“No, we’re going to Granny Annie’s Bakery first. We’re having a party at our house tonight.”

Ava gasped. “A party? What kind of a party?”

“A come-meet-Ava party, and all of your brothers and their wives, and your grandma, Shirley, are coming to meet you.”

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