I’d worn it in anticipation, so I opened my jacket.
She studied me.
Her eyes widened as she touched one of the red hearts.
“Ashley said you saved it because she made it.”
“That’s right.”
“Even though it’s just paper?”
“Especially because it’s just paper.”
She looked down.
She touched one of the red hearts.
“I made Ashley something, too.”
She ran into her bedroom and returned with a drawing.
It showed the three of them holding hands.
Above them, she’d written, “MY FAMILY.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
Hayden hesitated.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Can I show him the other one, Antonio?”
He nodded.
She pulled out another sheet.
Four people stood together.
The fourth was a tall man wearing a blue tie covered in red hearts.
Underneath, she’d written:
“ME AND MY GRANDPA.”
Four people stood together.
My throat tightened.
“Ashley helped her draw it,” Antonio explained. “She wanted Hayden to give it to you.”
