Page 3 of Beautiful Harmony

“I can French braid, Eva.” James leaned against the counter.

“This is a Dutch braid, Daddy. It’s an upside-down French braid, right, Emma?”

“Close. It’s a reverse French braid,” Emma said.

“Oh, right.” Eva touched her braid again. “I like it. Will you come to our house and teach Daddy how to do a Dutch braid on my hair?”

“Eva, you can’t just ask Emma that.” James’s cheeks went a little pink.

“Why not?” Eva asked.

“Because Emma is busy with the store, but you’re very cute, and it’s hard to say no to someone as cute as you.” Nora grinned at Eva.

“I’m the cutest,” Eva said.

James rolled his eyes as Emma and Nora laughed.

“Come here, cutest,” James said, holding out his arms.

Eva kissed Emma on the cheek in the middle of her birthmark. “Bye, Emma. You don’t have to teach Daddy how to Dutch braid, but it would make me so happy if you did, just so you know.”

Emma laughed and handed her to James. “I’d be happy to teach your Dad how to Dutch braid.”

Eva clapped her hands as James said, “Thanks, Emma. I’ll, uh, get your number from Nora and text you about a night and time?”

“Sure,” Emma said.

“Good.” James, his cheeks still weirdly pink, nodded to Nora. “Okay, well, we’re headed home. Eva just wanted to say hi to you.”

“More like say hi to Emma,” Nora said with a light squeeze of Eva’s calf.

“It’s true,” Eva said. “Emma’s great.”

Nora laughed. “She is. Bye, squirt.”

“Bye, Aunt Nora. Bye, Emma! I love you!”

Still carrying Eva, James nodded to Nora and Emma and left the store. Meredith approached the front, her arms loaded with the cotton yarn she needed and another seven balls of chunky yarn.

“Here, let me help you.” Nora took the yarn and placed it on the counter.

“Can you order more of the amethyst?” Meredith asked as Emma rang through their purchase. “I don’t think two balls will be enough.”

“Sure.” Emma handed them the receipt and their bag. “I can email you when it’s in. Should be about a week to ten days.”

“Thanks, Emma.” Meredith waved distractedly before hurrying out of the store.

“Can I ask you a question?” Emma said to Nora.

“Sure.”

“Why hasn’t Eva said anything about my birthmark? Little kids always bring it up, but she hasn’t.”

“Our cousin has a port wine birthmark,” Nora said, “so it’s not the first time Eva’s seen one. Also, my mother and James taught her from a young age that commenting on people’s appearances beyond you look nice or pretty wasn’t appropriate or necessary.”

“It’s a refreshing change,” Emma said.

Nora nodded, but Emma liked that there wasn’t any pity in her gaze. “Yes, I imagine it is. Hey, my brother’s into you, by the way, but he’s also super shy. So, if you’re interested in him, he’d say yes to going out on a date.”

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