Family Wanted

* * *

Isabella was obviously a natural with children, and it touched Titus immensely that his little girl already seemed to be warming to her.

Savannah rubbed her hand down her doll’s hair as Isabella gently drew the brush through the top layer of Savannah’s long brown hair. Then she lifted that layer and flinched at the mess. Apparently, Titus flinched in reflex, and Savannah noticed.

“Did I make it too bad?” She twisted around to look pleadingly at Isabella. “Can you not do it now?”

“No, I can do it,” Isabella said. “I’ll just take my time.” Then she tenderly worked her fingers into the knot to loosen it before she tackled it with the brush. “Do you go to school yet?” she asked, obviously still trying to get Savannah’s attention on something besides her tangled hair.

“Not now. Now it’s summer,” Savannah said softly.

Titus watched as Isabella eased her fingers through, the knot appearing to give a little with her effort. “That’s right. How could I forget that? But before it was summer, did you go to school?”

Savannah nodded, which must have caused her hair to pull, because tiny tears crested the bottom of her eyes and trickled free. “Ow.”

Titus flinched again. He couldn’t help it.

Isabella couldn’t see Savannah’s face, but she saw his and leaned forward to spot Savannah’s tears. “Oh, dear, I’m so sorry about that.”

“That’s okay.” Savannah blinked a couple of times and tried to act older than her age, the way she’d often done since that day when she’d been forced to grow up overnight, the day her mother left.

Titus watched her visibly compose herself to speak, another quality she’d learned since their world fell apart. “I was in kindergarten last year,” she said. “This time I’ll be in first grade.”

He was pleased that she wanted to communicate with Isabella. Typically, she remained silent unless absolutely necessary, so seeing her engage in conversation was a huge step. He thought about calling the child psychologist and relaying the event, but he’d already decided they weren’t going back. Besides, that woman hadn’t been able to get Savannah to utter more than a couple of sentences during the entire time they’d been going to her. Isabella had her talking in a mere day. Obviously, this woman was special, and Titus said a prayer of thanks to God for sending her their way.

“What was your teacher’s name?” Isabella asked, while Titus continued enjoying the vision of his little girl slowly but surely creeping out of her shell.

“My teacher was Mrs. Carter,” Savannah said, “but I don’t know who my teacher next year will be yet.”

The knot released, and Isabella grinned as her fingers moved all the way through. “I think I’ve got it,” she said, then took the brush again and gently pulled it through the mass of hair. “You’ve got a lot of hair, don’t you?”

Savannah turned toward Isabella, her eyes wide. “Mommy said that, too.”

Titus fought the emotion pulled from her words. He could almost see Nan, sitting on the couch with Savannah seated in front of her on the floor. They’d often watched television together that way, with Nan brushing Savannah’s hair.

“Well, your mommy was right,” Isabella said. “So, do you want a ponytail, or do you want two pigtails, like Rose and Daisy had yesterday?”

“Two pigtails.”

“All right then.” Isabella parted the hair down the middle, then gathered it into a pigtail on each side while Titus watched, amazed. She made it look so easy, but he had no doubt that if he tried, he’d probably have a worse tangle than the one Savannah had created this morning. Unlike Rose and Daisy’s pigtails, which were short and curly, Savannah’s were long, draping well past her shoulders.

But he knew the length of her pigtails wouldn’t matter to Savannah. What mattered was that she had something like her friends, and Isabella had helped that happen.

“All done,” she said, looping the elastic band around the second pigtail.

Savannah pulled a small mirror with a princess on the back from her bag and held it out to see each of the pigtails. She turned and gave Isabella the smile that Titus had been waiting for. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Isabella said, and then, while Titus’s heart squeezed tightly in his chest, Savannah scooted closer and put her arms around her in a hug.

“I’m gonna play with Rose and Daisy today,” she said, her voice more cheerful than Titus had heard in a very long time. Then she glanced toward Titus and added somberly, “I’m supposed to go to swim lessons tonight, but I don’t think I want to.”

His jaw tensed with his disappointment. “You don’t want to give it another try? That was only your first lesson last week, sweetie. You might like it better this time.”

“I want to swim,” she whispered, turning her attention from him to the doll in her hands, “but I’m afraid.”

Titus’s gaze caught Isabella’s, and she looked as though she understood that he had no idea what to do, what to say, to help his daughter.

Then her eyes brightened, and she gave him a smile before telling Savannah, “You know what? I taught swimming lessons when I lived in Atlanta. Maybe I could help you learn to swim.”

Savannah’s eyes lifted. “But I’m scared. I really want to, though.”

“We would go very slow,” Isabella said, “and I’ll be right there with you, if you decide to let me help.” She paused and then added, “I sure would like to.”

“What do you think, Savannah?” Titus asked. He said to Isabella, “I’d be happy to pay you for private lessons, if that’s what you’re offering.”

She shook her head. “You wouldn’t need to pay me. I’m happy to do it. And I didn’t get paid for teaching in Atlanta. I volunteered.” She shrugged. “It’s something I enjoy.”

“What do you say, Savannah?” he asked, throwing in another quick prayer for God to set this in motion.

She took another look in the mirror at her pigtails, then turned to Isabella. “I’ll try.”

Isabella wrapped an arm around her and gently squeezed. “That’s great.” She looked to Titus. “You’ll have to let me know where the nearest pool is.”

“John and Dana Cutter just put in a pool at their dude ranch, and they told me I could bring Savannah to swim anytime. I’m sure they’d be fine with you teaching her there.” He couldn’t believe this change of events, this incredible breakthrough with his little girl.

“That sounds great,” Isabella said. “Just let me know when y’all are ready to start.”

“You think I can learn it, Daddy?” Savannah asked, and he hated that he still heard hints of doubt and fear in her voice. “That I can swim?”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “I sure do,” he said as Savvy’s truck appeared in the driveway. She, Rose and Daisy waved as they parked beside Isabella’s car.

Seeing Savannah, the girls wasted no time climbing out. “Hey, Savannah! I like your hair!” one said.

“Me, too,” the other said. “And I like your doll. Do you want to bring her inside to play in the toy room? Our dolls are already there.”

Savannah looked at Titus, and he nodded his approval. “Go ahead,” he said. “Have fun.” Savannah gave Isabella a little nod before following them inside.

“I appreciate you offering to teach her to swim,” Titus said after the girls entered the trailer. He appreciated it more than she’d ever know. Her kindness had placed a crack in the tough shield Savannah had set in place after Nan left.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

“You teach swim lessons?” Savvy asked.

“I volunteered teaching swim lessons in Atlanta and loved it.” She pointed to the paper beneath her purse. “I included it on my résumé, even though it isn’t office experience.”

“It’s experience helping children, so it’s totally applicable for this job. And who knows? Maybe we’ll build a pool here for the kids eventually. If you’re gonna dream, might as well dream big, right?”

Titus looked toward the trailer. “Right,” he said, and he realized that his dreams for Savannah may have started coming true today.