Page 78 of Left Behind

“Thank you. That is so helpful,” Shirley said, and held out the package.

Ava glanced at Wiley. He nodded his okay, and she left the shelter of his presence to cross the room.

Shirley handed her the gift.

“Thank you,” Ava said, and clutched it against her chest as she scurried back to Wiley, then sat down at his feet. “Bubba, can I open this?”

“You sure can,” he said.

Ava ran her fingers across the shiny white paper with a perfect yellow bow, and just sat there. It was almost as if the box could have been empty and she wouldn’t have cared because the wrapping alone was more than she’d ever had and would have been enough.

“You can open it, honey,” Dani said.

“It will tear,” she whispered.

When he laid his hand on the top of her head to reassure her, her curls clung and coiled at his touch, as if they were alive on their own. It was a sign. She already had him wrapped around her little finger.

“It’s just paper, baby. Think of it like the shell of a peanut. You take off the shell to get to the good stuff, right?”

“The good stuff,” Ava whispered, and tore at a corner, and then saw something colorful inside and ripped off the rest of the paper and gasped. “It’s a puzzle, Bubba! I know how to do puzzles! Thank you, Bubba’s mother!”

Shirley’s eyes were shimmering with unshed tears, but she was smiling from ear to ear.

“You can call me Grammy,” Shirley said.

Ava looked back at Wiley. “I have a grammy.”

By now, everyone in the room was half-afraid to speak to her and all the way in love with her.

B.J. abandoned his chair and sat down beside her. “I’m your brother Brendan, but everybody calls me B.J. My brothers and I always wanted a little sister, and now we have one. Welcome to the family, Ava,” he said, and handed her his gift.

Ava glanced up at Wiley again, and when he winked, she giggled and tore into the paper, revealing a small silver box.

“It’s a music box,” B.J. said. “Open it. There’s something else inside.”

Ava lifted the lid and saw a shiny chain with a little silver heart lying at the bottom of the box. She gasped.

“Bubba, there’s treasure! It’s a necklace with a heart!”

Brendan lifted out the necklace, leaned forward, and fastened the clasp around her neck. The little heart fell into the hollow at her throat. Then he picked up the music box and turned it upside down. “Watch me, and you’ll see how to wind it up.”

She leaned forward, intent on his instructions as he gently twisted the little key beneath, then set the box down and closed the lid. The moment Ava heard music, she froze, and then tears welled.

“It’s singing to me,” she whispered.

B.J. opened his arms, and to everyone’s shock, Ava fell into them, laid her head on his shoulder, and sobbed.

“Don’t freak. This is a good reaction,” Wiley said. “I think she liked it…and you.”

At that point, Sean and Aaron joined the circle, each carrying their own presents. Amalie and Dani stayed back. This moment was for the family reunion.

“Hi, baby,” Aaron said. “We’ve already met, haven’t we? I’m Aaron, remember?”

She turned loose of B.J. and moved toward Aaron. “Corina was mean to you. Mean is like being rude. Bubba says rude people were picking their noses when God handed out manners.”

There was a moment of silence, and then Aaron burst out laughing and hugged her. “With Wiley for a Bubba, it will be a mystery as to what comes out of her mouth in the years to come. And yes, you’re right. Corina was rude.”

Ava nodded, then glanced back at Wiley, making sure she wasn’t in trouble, and got a grin and a wink from her Bubba. After that, she was fine.

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