"I knew you"d come back," Nalini whispered. "I knew it. I told everybody. Didn"t I, Papa Emilio?"
"You did, Nalini," he said, patting her back. "You certainly did."
Che was crying, holding her baby, and couldn"t speak.
"Don"t cry, Mama," said Nalini, covering Che"s face with kisses. "You are so beautiful." She touched Che"s streaked face, her short hair, she wiped her mother"s cheeks and kissed them again.
"I can"t believe how big you got, Nalini."
"I am five years and five months," the girl said, a big smile on her face.
"And you"re playing hopscotch."
"Uh-huh! You know who taught me? Your friend, Larissa. What? Don"t cry. Please. She came to live with us, and stayed for a long time, but then had to go because she had a big emergency, but Papa said she will come back soonawhat? Don"t cry. Wait till you see the Nativity play she wrote for us. You won"t believe it. I"m one of the Magi, Mama. I"m the one who brings myrrh, but I know everybody"s lines. I know the whole play by heart. Wanna hear?"
"More than anything."
"We"re putting it on next week for the Christmas Festival at the church and at the Moonwalk Square. Papa Emilio says if it"s a success we will put it on every year. Next year maybe I can be Mary. Larissa would be so proud. She made us the cave and the costumes."
"You sound very busy," Che said, caressing the child"s head and back shoulders. "When do you have time to play hopscotch?"
"Every day. I practice a lot." She giggled. "I am very good at it. You want to see?"
Reluctantly Che put her down. "Very much. I want to see everything."
Nalini took hold of her hand, looking up at her. Che brought her to a bench, sat down, pulled Nalini to sit on her lap.
"I thought you wanted to see me play?"
"I do. In a minute." Che caressed the child"s hair, her arms, her skinny legs, touched her, pawed her, felt her through her fingertips, inhaled her, gazed at her with adoration. "I can"t believe how big you got. How beautiful. What else can you do?"
"I can read! Wait till you hear me read Psalm 136!"
"Praise for the Lord"s Everlasting Mercy?" said Che. "You can sing that?"
"Well," said Nalini, sheepishly, "Papa Emilio says I memorized it, and maybe I did a little bit, but I can also read it. I can. The Lord"s mercy endures forever. And it"s true, it does endure forever, because look, He brought you back to me. Oh, Mama."
"Oh, Nalini."
Their arms wrapped around each other. "n.o.body believed me," Nalini whispered. "I told all the other kids, I told Papa Emilio, I told Larissa, no one would listen. But I knew you"d come back."
"It was really hard, Nalini. So many times I thought I might not make it. I"ve had a rough couple of years."
Nalini patted her face. "But now you"re here. And you know that nice man, Larissa"s uncle or brother, or somebody, left us money to go to America if we want to, and he said we can stay at his house. Papa Emilio said."
"Do you want to do that?"
Nalini clapped her hands together. "So much."
"Well, maybe we can go and visit, after we get settled. We have to figure out a couple of things first. Where we"re going to live. Mama has to look for a job. We"ve got some things to take care of."
"But after," said Nalini, "we"ll go and visit the nice man in his big house?"
"Yes, darling. We can do that." It was pleasant out, hot, humid, not much of a breeze, no rain, twinkling sunshine. They got up, Nalini in Che"s arms. "I can"t believe how big you got. You"re nearly my size."
"No, I"m still your little baby." She kissed her mother and jumped down. "What does my name mean, Mama? It"s not Filipino. My friends keep asking me."
"It"s Indian," replied Che. "It means the most beautiful one."
Nalini giggled. "Awesome. Wait till I tell *em. Now come," she said. "I want to introduce you to everybody. You want to play hopscotch with us? I"ll teach you."
"Yes, that would be good," Che said. "Me and Larissa used to play a long time ago"a"Che lowered her heada""when we were kids like you. But I have forgotten how."
"Well, come on, Mama," Nalini said, grabbing Che"s hand and pulling on her, "And don"t worry. Now that you"re here, every little thing"s gonna be all right."
About the Author.
A SONG IN THE DAYLIGHT.
Paullina Simons was born in Leningrad and emigrated to the United States in 1973. She lives close to New York, with her husband and four children. Go to her website, www.paullinasimons.com, for more information on her novels.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
By the same author.
Tully.
Red Leaves.
Eleven Hours.
The Bronze Horseman.
Tatiana and Alexander.
The Summer Garden.
The Girl in Times Square.
Road to Paradise.
aDo not lose heartaOutward man is perishing, yet inward man is being renewed day by dayaWe do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-1.
end.