Page 26 of The Wish List
“That’s great. I always wanted to be able to sing. My sister Beth has a gorgeous voice. I thought about taking lessons before the baby’s born. I’m worried that I’ll start singing and even my baby will beg me to stop. The only creatures that like my voice are alley cats.”
Michaela laughed as she followed Trinity back into the yard. “How’s Mr. Jingles?”
Trinity handed the girl the dustpan, but Michaela also took the broom. “I can bend down easier than you,” she explained.
Ash Davis was raising a lovely daughter, Trinity decided at that moment.
“Mr. Jingles is ornery. He pooped in my empty suitcase yesterday.”
The girl wrinkled her nose. “That’s disgusting. Are you giving him his special food?”
“What special food?”
“Miss May keeps cans of wet food in the hutch in the dining room. She gives him a little bowl every morning. I know because when she goes out of town, I cat sit for her. He likes the soft food.”
“Probably too much,” Trinity agreed. “He’s fat.”
“I don’t think Miss May cares.” Michaela’s smile was gentle. “She wants him to be happy.”
It still was difficult for Trinity to imagine her mom caring about anyone’s happiness other than her own. The more time she spent in Magnolia, the more she understood that either her mother had changed or the years of Trinity’s absence had brought a change to May that her daughters never would’ve expected.
“If I had a cat, I’d make sure he only pooped in his litter box,” Michaela said. “My dad promised I could get a dog or a cat for Christmas, but Nana said she’s allergic. I don’t think she’s allergic. She doesn’t want an animal in the house. A cute little doggy or kitty might make her smile, and she doesn’t like to smile.”
“That must be rough on you.”
“She says it’s because she misses Mom, but Dad and I miss her, and we still smile.”
“I’m sure that’s what your mom would want,” Trinity said. She plucked out one of the extra bulbs she’d put into her pocket and replaced the one she’d smashed. “Did you know I was friends with your mom growing up since we lived next door?”
“Mom always acted like she had so many friends in Magnolia, but not many people around here have nice things to say about her.”
Trinity inwardly winced. She thought the same thing about Stacy but would never act that way toward her daughter.
“Do you like living in Magnolia?” Trinity asked as she handed the string of lights to Michaela, who’d moved to the stepladder.
“It’s okay. I like the beach and stuff. Plus walking from school to downtown for ice cream is cool.”
She looked past Trinity as Ash’s SUV pulled into the Amermans’ driveway. “Kids sometimes act weird because my dad is the police chief.”
“What grade are you in?”
“Sixth.”
“Why on earth would sixth graders feel weird about a cop? That’s not supposed to happen until you’re sneaking beer from your parents.”
“Why is it that when I asked you for help with lights you said you were too busy?” Ash called to his daughter as he approached. He wore a canvas jacket over his uniform shirt and trousers. Trinity had never thought herself a sucker for a man in uniform, but her heart raced inside her chest and her body felt like it hummed its awareness of the police chief.
Michaela grinned. “I was too busy.”
“You were making a TikTok,” her dad complained.
“That was still busy.”
“I love TikTok.” Trinity pressed a hand to her stomach when the baby kicked. “My favorites are the talking dog accounts. I can’t get enough of them.”
“Have you seen the one with the talking hippos at the zoo?” Michaela asked.
Trinity shook her head. “Oh, I missed that.”
