Page 22 of Grace Notes
I smile, hoping to ease some of her worries. “We are here to talk to Dr. Phelps. He’s nice. I think you will like him.”
The door behind us creaks open, and the older therapist enters the room. His gait is slow, showing his age, but it’s his white hair that really gives it away.
Avery leans into me, and I bend my head down to hers.
“Is he Santa Claus?” she whispers, and I can’t help the smile that slips onto my lips. The man does kind of look like Santa Claus.
“No, Bug. Santa Claus is still safe and sound in the North Pole.”
She nods but doesn’t take her eyes off Dr. Phelps as he walks over to her. I’m not sure if she fully believes me about him not being Santa. There’s still suspicion in her eyes as she watches him.
When Dr. Phelps stands in front of us, he squats down next to Avery, groaning as his knees crack with the effort. Once he’s level with her, he smiles, transforming his face. There’s a lightness to that smile that would put anyone at ease—even the most hesitant four year old.
“You must be Avery. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Dr. Phelps.”
Avery hides her face behind my arm, peeking out when Dr. Phelps’s grin grows wider.
She stares at him from behind my sleeve, her little eyes narrowing and her mouth pursing.
When she’s completed her full assessment of him, she grows braver. She stops hiding behind my arm, and a little of the sassiness I’ve missed from her over the last couple of weeks shines through. “My daddy says you’re not Santa Claus, but I don’t believe him. I’ll keep your secret, though.”
Emryn covers her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her smile, and Dr. Phelps winks at Avery.
“That’s nice of you, young lady, but your dad is right. I’m just an old man with the hair to match.”
At this, Avery loses that sparkle that had come back in her eye and sits back, crossing her arms.
Dr. Phelps doesn’t miss the shift in her, watching her with a keen eye as he stands and slowly makes his way to his chair.
Once he is sitting, he turns back to Avery, who has returned to hiding behind me.
“Avery, if you don’t mind—before we start to talk—I would like to say a prayer. Is that okay with you?”
She shrugs, not offering him an answer, but he must take it as an okay because he bows his head, and Emryn and I follow suit.
“Dear heavenly father, we come here in your name today, seeking to remind a little girl of your everlasting mercies and love. Help us get to know each other, Lord. In your name, I pray. Amen.”
When I open my eyes, Avery has her head cocked, staring at Dr. Phelps.
“Why did you do that?” Avery asks, not taking her gaze from him.
“Pray?” he asks, giving her all his attention.
Avery nods.
“Because I believe that God can help us, even in the smallest situations, and I want his guiding hand when I am trying to help others.”
“But why?”
Dr. Phelps chuckles softly, remaining unflustered by Avery’s line of questioning. Beside me, Emryn grabs my hand, holding it tight, and I hold my breath, waiting to see how this all turns out.
“Can you keep a secret, Avery?” Dr. Phelps asks, leaning closer as if he is conspiring with her. Avery shakes her head, her face serious. “It’s because I have no idea what I’m doing down here without him. I’d be a total disaster, and even though I don’t always understand what he’s doing, I know God loves me and wants good things for me.”
Crossing her arms, Avery pokes out her bottom lip. “I’m mad at him.”
Emryn opens her mouth to speak, but I shake my head. We both agreed that we wouldn’t make Avery come in alone. It’s not that we don’t trust Dr. Phelps—we do—but she’s four. That felt like throwing her to the wolves and hoping she survived. But even though we agreed not to make her do this alone, we also decided to keep quiet and let Dr. Phelps do his job.
“How come?” he asks her, his voice remaining casual.
