Legacy of Love by Donna Hill

came through the door. She hurried over to him.
    â€œI’ll take her.”
    â€œNo, she’s too heavy for you to carry her up the stairs.”
    â€œFine, but I do it all the time.”
    She followed them upstairs and once Jackson had put Shay on the bed, Michelle gently began to get her daughter undressed, miraculously completing the task without waking her.
    â€œCan you hand me her nightgown? It’s on the chair.”
    Jackson walked to the corner of the bedroom and picked up the pink nightgown. Shay’s favorite cartoon character, Dora the Explorer, was emblazoned on the front. Jackson smiled then handed Michelle the gown.
    â€œI met her tonight.”
    Michelle stopped what she was doing and whipped her head in Jackson’s direction. “What?” she said in a hot whisper. Her eyes were wide with surprise. “The same woman you told me about from the day of the fire?”
    Jackson nodded and leaned against the dresser. “Her name is Zoe Beaumont. She’s the curator at the museum.”
    Michelle gently lifted her daughter’s head, slid the gown over it and then put her arms through the sleeves. She put Shay under the covers and gave her a tender kiss good-night.
    Shay stirred then settled under the light blanket.Michelle eased off the bed and she and Jackson tiptoed out.
    She took his hand and looked up into his eyes. “Are you sure?” she asked in an urgent whisper.
    He nodded. “Yes, I am.”
    She tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth, her own troubles forgotten. “Tell me. Tell me everything. What’s she like? Is she cute?”
    Jackson tossed his head back and laughed. “Very cute. Come on downstairs. I’ll fix us a drink.”
    They held hands going down the stairs just like they used to do when they were kids, and the realization simultaneously hit them. They looked at each other and chuckled.
    â€œI have some raspberry rum,” said Jackson.
    â€œAdd a little coke and some ice and I’m good.”
    â€œYes ma’am.”
    Michelle curled up in the side chair. “Soooo, what is she like?”
    Jackson handed Michelle her drink then sat down opposite her on the couch. “She’s stunning for starters.”
    Michelle grinned. “Of course you would say that. What else?”
    â€œWell, it’s kind of hard to describe. She’s…” He trailed off, then frowned for a moment searching for the right words. “She’s everything. That’s the only way I can put it.” He looked at his sister, hoping that she would understand what he couldn’t explain. “Her voice. Her eyes. Her spirit.” How could he putinto words that someone whom he’d only imagined to be real actually was?
    â€œWhen are you going to see her again?”
    He sipped his drink. “We didn’t get that far.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œLet me start from the beginning.” He told her about the feeling he had at the museum and carefully told her about losing Shay and that it was Zoe who found her.
    Her mouth opened then closed it. “Shay got lost?” she finally said.
    â€œSis, I’m sorry. It happened so fast. One minute she was there and then she wasn’t. I…”
    â€œIt’s okay. She’s safe. She wasn’t hurt. That’s what’s important.” She paused a moment. “You know how Grandma used to always say that everything happens for a reason?”
    â€œYeah?”
    She let out a slow breath. “As awful as my reason for being here is, maybe we were supposed to be here today. Shay was supposed to get lost so that you two could find each other.” Her eyes filled and she turned her head away. She pressed her fist to her mouth.
    â€œMikki…” He sprung up from his seat and squeezed in beside her in the chair. He put his arm around her and pulled her close.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she whimpered. “You should be