Page 40 of Not Another Beach Read
Holly shrugged, but I could see she was pleased. "He's easyto talk to. He doesn't expect anything, you know? He just wants someone to listen to his dinosaur facts and help him build stuff."
"Sometimes that's all any of us want," I said softly.
She nodded, absently stroking Eden's fur. "When I was little, Mom would sometimes forget to make lunch. Or she'd be sleeping when I got home from school." Her voice was matter-of-fact, without self-pity. "I used to pretend I had someone who would ask me about my day and cut the crusts off my sandwiches."
My heart twisted. "Holly?—"
"It's okay," she said quickly. "Grandma and Grandpa did all that stuff when I stayed with them. And now you and Uncle Drew do too." She looked up at me, her expression suddenly vulnerable. "I just want Noah to always have someone who listens to his dinosaur facts, you know?"
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, feeling the weight of her trust. "I know exactly what you mean. And I think you're going to make sure lots of kids feel that way."
We sat in comfortable silence for a while, Eden's gentle snores the only sound in the room. I thought about texting Drew to tell him about Holly's successful first babysitting job, but decided to wait until he got home. Some moments were better shared in person.
"Aunt Elyse?" Holly said finally.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think I could maybe babysit for Sarah's kids sometime too? Or maybe even sign up for that babysitting certification course at the community center?"
I smiled, seeing the spark of something new in her eyes—purpose, perhaps, or the discovery of a talent she hadn't known she possessed.
"I think that's a wonderful idea," I told her. "We can look into it this week."
Holly nodded, clearly already making plans in her head. I watched her, this remarkable girl who had taken all the hurt and neglect in her young life and somehow transformed it into a capacity for extraordinary care.
Sarah was right. The nurturing Holly showed wasn't despite her past; it was because of it. She was giving others what she had once desperately needed herself. And in doing so, she was healing parts of herself she probably hadn't even realized were wounded.
As if reading my mind, Holly straightened up slightly. "I was thinking maybe I could start saving up the money from babysitting. For college or something." She hesitated. "I don't know how long I'll be staying here, but..."
"Holly," I said, choosing my words carefully, "no matter what happens with your mom, you always have a place with us. You know that, right?"
She nodded, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.
"I mean it," I continued. "Uncle Drew and I have talked about it, and we want you to feel secure here. This isn't temporary unless you want it to be."
Holly's fingers traced patterns in Eden's fur. "What if Mom comes back and wants me to come home?"
The question hung between us, loaded with years of disappointment and false hopes. I took a deep breath.
"If that happens, we'll figure it out together. But honey, your mom needs to be stable and healthy before that's even a possibility." I squeezed her shoulder gently. "And you deserve to make choices about your own life, too."
She nodded slowly. "I've been thinking about the arts program at Clearwater Community College. They have photography classes and a darkroom and everything."
"That sounds perfect for you," I said, remembering thestunning sunset photos she'd taken with her phone last week. "We can look into the program whenever you're ready."
Holly smiled, a real smile that reached her eyes. "Thanks, Aunt Elyse."
The front door opened, and Drew's voice called out, "Hello? Anyone home?"
"We're in here!" I called back.
Drew appeared in the doorway, his face lighting up at the sight of us curled up on the couch. "This looks cozy. Did I miss anything exciting?"
"Holly's first official babysitting job was a rousing success," I told him. "Noah is now her biggest fan."
"He taught me about carnivorous dinosaurs," Holly added. "And we found bugs."
Drew dropped his briefcase next to his carry-on suitcase and came to sit in the armchair across from us. "Sounds like a full day. Any good bugs?"
