“Hi, my name is Lil. I’ve been hearing a lot about it. Good things, I assure you.”
“Hi Lil, my name is Conleigh, and this is my daughter, Collins.”
But before she could say anything, I heard a little girl ask, “Why don’t you have any hair?”
Collins hadn’t wanted to wear her beanie because it was a warm day outside.
It took everything in me to not wrap Collins in my arms and rush out of the clubhouse.
But before I could do that, a woman knelt down by the little girl and said, “Sweetie, it’s not nice to ask people questions like that.”
The little girl’s lip quivered. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’ve just never seen a girl with no hair.”
Looking down at Collins to make sure she was okay, I was shocked when Collins said, “I had hair like my Mommy. But I got sick. And when I lost some, we had to shave it.”
The little girl gasped and then wrapped Collins in a hug. “Did that hug help?”
Collins returned her hug and smiled. “I feel better. Thank you. I’m Collins.”
“I’m Laci. Do you like to play with Barbie dolls?” Even though she had asked the question, it sounded a little weird.
Collins shook her head adamantly. “No, I like Pokémon and dragons and unicorns.”
Laci gasped and smiled a big smile. “You do? You just became my best friend. I hate Barbie dolls. Come on, I’ll show you what I have.” I didn’t know that Collins had just passed a test with this little girl.
That was when Collins looked up at me and asked, “Is that okay, Mommy?” Like I would ever deny the excitement in her tone. She’s never really been around kids her age because of the cancer. So, I knew there was no way I would tell her she couldn’t.
Before I could nod, Gage was there. “I got her. Hang out with the women. Enjoy yourself, okay?”
When I nodded, he squeezed my hand and then followed the two little girls out of the kitchen.
That was when the woman that had chided Laci offered her hand to me. “Hi, my name is Michelle. I’m Cam’s ole’ lady and that little girl’s mom.” I looked to where she pointed, and I realized he was one of the ones that was in Gage’s backyard a few nights back when he was playing his guitar.
“It’s nice to meet you, Michelle. I’m Conleigh.”
Lil smiled as she said, “I’m with Powers. The woman stirring that bowl is June, and she is with Heathen. Then the woman cutting up potatoes is Mackenzie, and she is with Lincoln. And we make up the ole’ ladies.”
“Hi.” I waved at them.
For the next hour, I helped them make everything.
And when it was all finished, we carried the plates and trays outside to a row of picnic tables.
Powers boomed out, “Fucking A. Let’s fucking eat.” Laughing when I felt arms come around my waist, I tilted my head back into Gage’s chest.
“How’d you know it was me?” He asked, while his beard tickled my ear.
I snickered, “Your cologne. I like it.”
“Mm-hmm. You having a good time?”
I nodded, then asked, “Gage?”
Was he sniffing me? “Yeah?”
“Are you sniffing me?”
I felt the rumble from his chuckle skitter up my backside. “Yeah.”