Page 63 of A Heart of Little Faith
“You have to rest to regain your strength,” Gideon answered. “Take a nap.” He shut the door before she could respond.
From the other side of the door, Gideon heard Lily mutter. She hated being handled, but it was the best thing for her right now. She needed her rest. He waited at the door, determined to block her path if she dared to open the door, but it remained shut. A lack of noise from within told him she’d fallen asleep, and after a few moments, he left his post.
An hour later, he knocked on the door, her dinner tray on his lap, Claire peeking over his shoulder. They arranged the tray on her lap and returned with their own food.
“See Mom, it’s just like a picnic.” Lily smiled at Claire and the three of them caught up on three days’ worth of news.
As she stifled a yawn, Gideon said, “Come on, kiddo; let’s get you ready for bed.” Unfortunately, after being separated from her mother for so long, Claire wasn’t ready to relinquish the attention.
“I don’t want to go to bed, Mommy. Please can’t I stay up a little later? Please, pretty please?” Claire gave her soulful eyes as she hugged her.
Lily couldn’t help smiling. She reminded her of a puppy dog. “I love your hugs, Claire, I do, but they’re not going to work this time. It’s time for bed. You have a big day at school tomorrow. Now go and get undressed.”
Like a sudden summer storm, Claire’s mood changed from pleadingly sweet to angry in seconds. “It’s not fair,” she shouted as she stomped across the room. “I never get what I want!”
Lily started to push away the covers. Gideon stopped her. “Do you mind if I try something with her?”
“Be my guest.” She sank onto the pillows. “She’s all yours.”
He followed Claire. “Hey, ClaireBear, what’s wrong?” He maneuvered next to her bed, where she sat hunched over, her fists bunched and her face sporting a glare worthy of him in his darkest moods. He held back a chuckle.
“I’m angry!” She turned away from him. Her rounded back illuminated her spine through her shirt; Gideon saw all of her vertebrae, and he ran his finger down each one. Usually, this tickled Claire and provoked at least a giggle from her. This time, though, she didn’t say a word.
“What are you angry about?” he prodded, when the silence stretched.
“Mom!”
“What about your mom?”
“She always has to get her way. I want to stay up and she won’t let me!”
He pulled her into a brief hug. Like her daughter, he wanted to spend every second with Lily as well. “Don’t you have school tomorrow?”
Claire nodded without a sound.
“You don’t want to be too tired to enjoy it, do you?”
She faced him. “I don’t care!”
Gideon sat back. “I think you do. How about you get ready for bed and I’ll read you a story. Is it a deal?”
Claire remained motionless for a moment. Her body relaxed and she relented.
“One thing though,” he said and leaned into her. “You have to go say you’re sorry to your mom for yelling at her. Okay?”
She followed him into Lily’s bedroom, where Lily sat under the covers and tried to read a book. Claire climbed onto the bed and snuggled into her mom. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”
Lily hugged her and kissed the top of her head, her nose rubbing her soft locks. “That’s okay, sweetie. I missed you so much. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mommy.” She hopped off the bed and ran into her room. “Gideon’s going to read me a story!” she yelled from her bedroom.
“That’s great, Claire,” she called out. Then to him, “Thanks for handling that.”
His lungs expanded with the knowledge that he was able to do something for the two of them. “No problem. I’d love to put her to bed.”
Five minutes later, Claire was in her pajamas, teeth brushed and face washed. Her shiny face glowed and she smelled like soap. She held one of her favorite books. Gideon took it, and led her into her bedroom. Claire climbed under the covers and he sat next to the head of the bed and examined the book.
“Piggy Pie?” He flipped through it and ran his palms over the shiny cover.