looked forward to this moment every day. Aubrey stood at the side of the
crib, her sunbeam curls tangled from sleep, her cheeks still flushed
with it. Grace could still remember the first time she'd come in and
seen Aubrey standing, her wobbly legs rocking, her face glowing with
success and surprise.
Now Aubrey's legs seemed so sturdy. She lifted one, then the other, in a
kind of joyful march. She laughed out loud when Grace came into the
room. "Mama, Mama, hi, my mama."
"Hello, my baby." Grace leaned over the side for the first nuzzle and
sighed. She knew how lucky she was. There couldn't have been a child on
the planet with a sunnier nature than her little girl. "How's my
Aubrey?"
"Up! Out!"
"You bet. Gotta pee?"
"Gotta pee," Aubrey agreed and giggled when Grace lifted her out of the
crib.
The toilet training was coming along, Grace decided, checking Aubrey's
overnight diaper as they headed into the bathroom. It had its hits and
its misses.
Aubrey hit it this time, and Grace launched into the lavish praise over
bodily functions that only a parent with a toddler could understand.
Teeth and hair were brushed in the closet-size bathroom Grace had
brightened up with mint-green walls and awning-striped curtains.
Then the breakfast routine began. Aubrey wanted cold cereal with bananas
but no milk. She plopped her hand over the bowl when Grace started to
pour it on, shaking her head vigorously. "No, Mama, no. Cup. Please."
"Okay, milk in a cup." Grace filled one, set it on the high-chair tray
beside the bowl. "Eat up, now. We've got lots to do today."
"Do what?"
"Let's see." Grace made herself a piece of toast while she went through
the projected day. "We have to finish the laundry, then we promised Mrs.
West we'd wash her windows today."
A three-hour job, Grace estimated.
"Then we have to go to the market."
Aubrey gasped in pleasure. "Miss Lucy."
"Yes, you'll see Miss Lucy." Lucy Wilson was one of Aubrey's favorite
people. The supermarket cashier always had a smile--and a lollipop--for
Aubrey. "After we put the groceries away, we're going to the Quinns'."
"Seth!" Milk dribbled out of her grin.
"Well, honey, I don't know for certain that he'll be there today. He may
be out on the boat with Ethan, or over at his friends' house."
"Seth," Aubrey said again, very definitely, and her mouth puckered up
into a stubborn pout.
"We'll see." Grace mopped up the spills.
"Ethan."
"Maybe."
"Doggies."
"Foolish, for sure." She kissed the top of Aubrey's head and gave
herself the luxury of a second cup of coffee.
at eight-fifteen grace was armed with a stack of newspapers and a spray