The Unveiled Rose novel Chapter 44

The rest of the family saw that she was opening up and all gathered around to tease her.

Apart from me and Reuben, Joyce wouldn't give anyone the time of day.

I mulled over this as I ate my breakfast.

If just fixing her hair into a little braid made her so happy, she'd chat up anyone, then maybe, if I did more stuff like that, she'd start talking to others more, too.

...

After breakfast, Joyce took my hand and said goodbye to Reuben, who was lounging in the living room. “Daddy, I'm off to school.”

Reuben had planned to head straight to work, but her words made him change his mind on the spot. “I'll drive you guys.”

Joyce, tilting her head, couldn't figure out why Reuben suddenly decided to switch gears.

But Reuben just pulled up the car next to her. “Hop in.”

Joyce was too young to sit in the front, so I joined her in the backseat.

As Reuben drove, he glanced at Joyce through the rearview mirror. “This Saturday and Sunday, I’ll clear my schedule to hang out with you. Got any place you wanna go?”

“Yes!” Joyce started counting on her fingers. “My preschool friends all go to the amusement park in their free time! I want to bring Mommy along! So they all see, I have the best Mom in the whole world!”

The more Joyce talked, the more her eyes sparkled until she burst into joyful laughter.

Reuben looked away from the mirror. “One day at the amusement park, and then where to the next?”

“Hmm...” Joyce thought hard but couldn't come up with a good answer.

She looked troubled. “Mommy, is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

I answered, “I’d like to visit the library.”