the pans and platters,” Riley proudly announced. “I know how to be real careful so I don’t break nothin’.”
Abby thought back on memorable conversations she’d had with her mother while cleaning up the kitchen on holidays past. She looked over at Riley. “Thanksgiving cleanup is a special time only we girls get to enjoy.”
“And we guys are more than happy to let you.” Hawk laughed. “See y’all later.”
Abby got up and carried her dishes into the kitchen. She hugged her mother and whispered in her ear. “I love you. This is the best Thanksgiving ever—for so many reasons.”
Kate nodded. “It’s been a long time since there’s been this much laughter in the house. Why don’t you and Jay go for that walk. Riley and I can handle the kitchen.”
“You sure?”
Kate smiled. “I’ll load the dishwasher, and whatever’s left, I’ll wash and she can dry. It’ll be fun.”
“Okay, see y’all later.” Abby linked arms with Jay. “Guess we’re good to go.”
Abby opened the front door and stepped into the crisp November afternoon, marveling at the ways God had honored her mustard-seed faith when that’s all she had. He had done a lot more than just bring Riley home. He had given her back her family.
Kate ran the fully loaded dishwasher on the china-and-crystal setting, and then handwashed the pots and pans and serving pieces. She was tickled that Riley seemed to take great pride in drying them thoroughly and setting them aside neatly on the countertop, as if to display her handiwork.
“Mama, can we spend time lookin’ at the pictures now?” Riley said.
“Sure.”
“I wanna see the ones of me when I was little. And of Daddy and me.”
“Come on,” Kate said. “We’re about done here. Let’s go look at pictures while the house is quiet.”
Kate went into the living room, where her father snored contentedly in his easy chair next to the crackling fire. She picked up the least heavy of the brown leather photo albums and sat on the couch next to Riley. She opened the album, which was filled with pictures taken of Riley shortly after she was born. They had looked through this album more in the past six months than in the entire five years her daughter was missing.
Riley studied each picture, smiling with her eyes. “Daddy looks nice. I look kinda weird.”
“You were a beautiful baby.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Oh, sweetie, look at all that dark hair,” Kate said. “And those pretty almond-shaped eyes. And fair skin. You looked like a little doll.”
“Is that why you and Daddy loved me?”
Kate slipped her arm around Riley’s shoulder. “You were adorable, but that’s not the reason. There’s a very special love that happens between a parent and child. Your daddy and I didn’t even have to try—we just loved you the minute we saw you. Of course, we’d been waiting patiently for nine months to meet you.”
“And y’all weren’t disappointed?”
“Not even slightly. We were thrilled.”
“I wish I could remember Daddy. I can’t remember nothin’ before I lived with Pa and Otha.”
Kate stroked Riley’s ponytail. “Well, most kids don’t remember much before the age of five anyhow. But you can count on me and Abby, your brothers, and Grandpa Buck to tell you about it. All of us remember.”
“I wish Pa didn’t kill my real daddy.”
“Me, too,” Kate said. “Micah was a fine man. He loved us all very much. And we loved him with all our hearts.”
Riley paused and seemed to be thinking. “Maybe if I woulda got killed instead, you wouldn’t hafta miss him so much.”
“Sweetie, don’t ever think that. We would miss you the same way.” Kate looked into her daughter’s innocent blue eyes. “We already know what missing you feels like. It was the most awful hurt in the world.”
“And now it don’t hurt no more?”
“Not at all.” Kate pulled Riley closer. “And having you home is the greatest blessing of this Thanksgiving.”
Kate noticed the corners of her father’s mouth had curled up, as if to say it didn’t hurt that Kate had stopped blaming God and decided to move on with her life.
“I’m glad you’re my real mama,” Riley said. “You make me happy every single day.”
“I feel the same way about you.” Kate tapped her on the nose. “You make me happy from the inside out.”
“’Cause you like me?”
“Yes. And because I’ve never ever stopped loving you—not for one minute.”
“Not for a teeny-tiny second?” Riley cocked her head and flashed an elfin grin.
“Not for a single heartbeat.” Kate took her daughter’s hand and