Page 51 of Family Bonds: Carter & Avery

Then there were his hands that were rough and calloused in some spots, but felt wonderful on her body.

As if he could take care of anything that needed to be done without effort or frustration.

She didn’t even mind he was on the slow side because she figured she needed to slow down and think things through too.

“I’m ready to go,” Josie said, running back into the room. “I put the brushes away like you showed me, Laine.”

“I’m sure you did,” Laine said. “Next week we’ll work on the next layer of your painting.”

“Do you need some more canvases for home?” Avery asked Josie. She tried not to go into her art room more than necessary, as it was Josie’s space to be herself.

On Colleen’s anniversary they both spent some time in there and talked to her late best friend. Then Josie had been painting the one wall with her mural of the field of flowers that Colleen loved. Every time she thought it was done, Josie said she had to add more to it.

It amazed her a little girl had done that painting when at eight she was coloring with crayons, drawing rainbows and bubbly animals.

Not Josie.

Josie was mature well beyond her years and now Avery was wondering if she should be focusing on letting her be a child. She’d already been through so much more than any child should have at her age.

“I could always use canvases,” Josie said. “And if I had extra then when I had friends over they could paint too.”

She grinned and that comment made her feel better. “Laine, why don’t you show me what to get for Josie? She can have a little shopping spree for now.”

“Yay,” Josie said, hopping around the shop.

Once they were loaded up with more paint and canvas and a website for her to get brushes that Josie used here, they headed for home.

“Why don’t you put these where you want them,” she said once she carried everything upstairs with Josie. “I’m going to let Betty out and then you need to take a shower and get ready to settle in for bed.”

It was close to eight at this point. With the start of school, Josie’s lesson started at five thirty so they could be home in time to get Josie in bed close to eight, which was when she always went. But tonight, it’d be a little later. Good thing Josie didn’t wash her hair daily and they took care of that yesterday.

Even feeding Josie on these nights wasn’t easy. She felt bad, but since the clinic closed at five, she was having Josie eat there in her office. Something leftover or frozen that could go in the microwave. Not the best, but she supposed it was better than fast food. Then she’d drive Josie right to the lessons without going home first.

Josie came downstairs ten minutes later in her pajamas, her hair combed and a rubber band in her hand. “Can you put a braid in my hair?”

“Sure,” she said.

“It got a little wet in the shower,” Josie said.

“That’s okay. Maybe you’ll have some nice waves in it in the morning,” she said.

“My mom used to do that to her hair. I remember.”

“I do too,” she said softly. She decided to take Laine’s advice. “How come you chose to paint the clinic?”

“Because it feels like home to me.”

That might be the best answer she could have hoped to hear. “Really?”

“Yes,” Josie said. “It’s so much better than daycare. I’m not alone, yet I don’t have to be around people if I don’t want to either.”

“I know that feeling,” she said. “I don’t want you to ever feel alone.”

“I like playing with other kids, but they don’t always understand or like the things I do. This lets me draw on my own until it’s time to go home. And I get to play or visit with other dogs. Dopey and Doc are the best though. When do I get to see them again?”

Avery should have figured this would come up. “I’m not sure,” she said. It wasn’t a lie, but she wasn’t going to share her night with Josie either.

“Can I watch TV in bed tonight?” Josie asked.

---