Make Me Yours

“Okay!” Ruby seems as eager as me to do something, anything to get out of this foyer, where we’re awkwardly trying to pretend like we’re not checking each other out.

I lead the way through the open living room, with the large kitchen and dining area to the right and Lillie’s playroom on the opposite end to the left. My daughter is still happily chattering away with her dolls.

“Travis,” Lillie speaks with an exaggerated southern accent, shaking a doll in a pink dress at a sitting Ken. “When a woman says lay-tah, what she really means is not EVAH!”

What is she saying? I start to make some sort of apology, when Ruby laughs. “The Princess and the Frog!”

She drops her backpack at my feet and leaves her suitcase, going to where Lillie sits on the floor and kneeling beside her.

“Ruby!” My daughter jumps up and hugs her, holding out a doll in a green dress. “You want to be Tiana?”

“Sure!” Ruby takes the green doll and shakes her at the pink one Lillie’s holding. “Lottie, don’t eat all the beignets.”

“Give me napkins!” My daughter grabs five tissues out of the box on the floor and shoves them under her doll’s arms. “I’m sweatin’ like a sinner in church!” I cough a laugh, and she keeps going. “My prince is never going to come!”

“Lottie, wait!” Ruby calls after my daughter, who runs to the small daybed. “Calm down and take a deep breath.”

“I just have to wish harder!” Lillie looks up at the ceiling. “Please please please please…”

Ruby goes to where my daughter is chanting, and they continue this scene. I’m stuck at the door, watching as they bond over some crazy movie scene I don’t know.

Satisfaction filters warm through my stomach. This is good… better than good.

I watch as she smooths a silky, sand-colored curl off Lillie’s shoulder. “Wishing is fun, but you have to work hard to get what you want.”

Lillie puts the doll down and turns to her, and I don’t think they’re playing anymore. “Did you have to work hard to get what you wanted?”

Ruby smiles. “I’ve worked hard, but I’m not finished yet. I still have things I want.”

Interesting.

“I like your hair.” Lillie crawls around the bed to thread her fingers in Ruby’s long ponytail. “You’re like Mulan.”

“Mulan is Chinese. I’m half Korean.”

Lillie’s eyes widen. “What’s that?”

“It’s a whole different country. We can talk about it later.” Ruby looks back at me, where I’m silently watching, wondering where she’s been all my daughter’s life. “I didn’t know if it might be bedtime?”

“Yes,” I snap out of it, straightening. “I’ll show you your room.”

Reaching down, I slide out the handle on her rolling suitcase and lift her backpack from where she left it at my feet.

Ruby hurries to stop me. “I can carry my bags.”

“You’d better let me. Your room’s on the third floor.”

“We’re at the very top!” Lillie grabs her hand, practically skipping. “All the princesses live in the top of the castle.”

“Is that so?” Ruby smiles down at her, and the two take off ahead of me.

Lillie chatters all the way up the stairs, and I follow, feeling better about this situation by the minute. Lillie acts like Ruby belongs to her, leading her up the stairs and down the hall to her room.

Ruby gasps as she steps inside, looking all around the same way she did in the foyer. “It’s beautiful.” She looks back at me. “And so big!”

I can’t resist. “That’s what she said.”

Ruby snorts a laugh, but my daughter frowns. “That is what Ruby said?”