dream of anything else.”
She hurried away and returned with her ribbons.
I sat behind her at the kitchen table.
My fingers trembled as I separated her curls.
“Ouch!” she complained.
“Sorry, darling.”
“You’re pulling too hard.”
I loosened my grip.
“Better?”
“Yep!”
Nora stood nearby watching.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
I finished tying the ribbons.
Ellie jumped from the chair and hurried to the hallway mirror.
“Perfect!”
Then she ran to show Tom.
For a moment, Nora and I sat silently.
Finally, she asked the question we’d
