Today was a good day. Reid smiled, watching Zoë concentrate on some picture book. Luke and Danny had left for the stables and he and Zoë were enjoying the peace and quiet. As if she sensed him watching, the girl looked up and returned his smile.
“Good book?”
Zoë shrugged. “I like the pictures.”
“Do you want me to read the story to you?”
Again she shrugged, but then shook her head.
“Can we talk?”
“Always.” Reid put his magazine on the table next to him and tapped on the sofa. “Lap or couch?”
“Couch, please.”
Reid lifted her up and she made herself comfortable against the large pillows. She looked so small. So vulnerable. He could almost feel his heart grow a size. How he loved this little human being.
She felt his love. He could see it in her eyes when she looked up to him. The blue peepers sparkled and she gave him a flashing smile. Short but sweet.
“Let’s hear it. What’s on your mind,” Reid prompted her and she lowered her head. Looking shy, all of a sudden.
“I want to tell you something.”
Reid swallowed a teasing ‘I had figured that out’ and calmly nodded.
“Do you remember where they found me?”
Reid swallowed again, but this time to push back a startled ‘What?’. She wanted to talk about that?
“I do,” his voice was soft. “They found you on the side of the road.”
Zoë nodded, her face all serious and pensive.
“Like garbage,” she whispered.
Reid felt his heart break. She looked so sad. He felt some panic too. Luke was the writer. Luke was the one with all the right words. He knew he had to say something, though.
“Yeah, I can imagine it feels like that. But you know the cool part about garbage? One person may think it’s waste and couldn’t care less about it, but someone else looks at the garbage and sees something precious.”
Zoë stared at him, obviously pondering over his words. Then her face lit up a little.
“Like Grandma’s chair.”
Okay? What Grandma and what chair?
Before he could ask, Zoë explained: “My grandma had an old chair and one day she bought a new one and my daddy put the old one outside with the trash. But an hour later someone took the chair with him, looking all happy.”
Reid smiled. Not only because she shared a memory of her past – and she hardly ever did that – but also because this example clearly made her understand his message.
“Exactly. Your grandma didn’t see the value of the chair, but the other person did.”
Zoë nodded.
“Gaia is tossed aside too. I don’t think she’s garbage.” She looked up and her eyes were telling. Her question was evident. Do you?
“I don’t think she’s garbage either,” Reid calmly said, suddenly understanding the connection between the girl and the dog, “in fact, I think she’s beautiful…”
“For a dog,” Zoë gave him a quick smile.
“For a dog,” Reid repeated. “But be honest here…you know she smells.”
“Because it’s wet outside,” Zoë muttered.
“Because she’s a dog,” Reid objected. “That’s what dogs do. They smell. They drop their hair all over the place. They drool. They need a walk, even when it’s raining or when you’re tired. And I can go on and on.”
He suddenly realized he’d sounded like his father and that made him frown, but he couldn’t help but smile when he saw Zoë holding up four fingers.
“Now what’s nice about a dog,” she encouraged him and he almost laughed out loud. That sneaky little smart ass had paid attention and was now mirroring his method to list the pros and cons. He gave a quick nod. Okay. He would play.
He pulled his most thoughtful face.
“Hmmm…now that’s a lot harder. What’s nice about a dog…hmmm…”
Zoë became a little agitated and leaned forward to slap him softly on the arm.
“You can play with them…” she helped him.
“Hold on… that’s what you like about a dog. You asked me.”
When her face dropped, he softly picked her up and put her on his lap.
“Listen sweetie, I’m just not a dog person. Never had one…” He was planning to say ‘never wanted one’, but suddenly realized that would have been a lie. He remembered he wanted a dog. Desperately, even. But his father refused for – as he admitted now – very legitimate reasons.
“But Danny has a horse!” she almost shouted and Reid raised an eyebrow.
“Dawn is not living in this house, is she? Whole different matter.”
Zoë’s pout came straight out of the Snyder Manual For Effective Pouting and made Reid shake his head.
“There’s something you need to know about me, Zoë.” His serious tone made her look up with shy and sad eyes.
“You can always talk to me and share your opinion, but trying to force your opinion on me is not gonna work. Ever. I hope we’ll live together in this house for many many years and there will be moments where you will not get what you want. And it’s okay to be sad about that. It’s okay to be angry about it. But that will not change the situation. Sometimes we just have to accept that we can’t always get what we’d like.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s life. Sometimes the timing isn’t right. Or the circumstances.”
Zoë was back to her usual frowning.
“What would you like, but can’t get?”
Reid didn’t have to think long about that.
“I wish my parents could meet Luke and you two kids. That I could show them how happy I am. That I made it.”
The girl nodded, making her curls dance over Reid’s shirt.
“Your mommy and daddy are dead too…”
“They are.”
“How?”
“Car crash.”
“Were you in the car?”
“No.”
“I’m glad,” Zoë said softly and nestled herself against his chest. He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.
“Me too.”
“And you had to live with that mean uncle.”
Reid was startled for a moment. How did she know about that? Then he remembered his birthday movie and smiled.
“Yeah.”
“My uncle isn’t that mean.”
“No, he isn’t.”
“But I’m glad I don’t have to live with him.”
“Me too.”
Zoë sat up and when Reid looked at her, she softly said: “You never had a girl in the house before, but you gave me a chance. Will you give Gaia a chance?”
How could Reid do anything else than smile?
“I promise.”
“A real honest chance?”
“A real honest chance.”
She leaned back against him and he could feel her relax.
“Thank you.”
Reid managed to command some exploring tear to stay inside and kissed the curls again.
“You’re welcome.”
