I nodded. “Promise, promise.”
I walked her through the calming techniques I used in Radcliffe’s and had her settled down within a few minutes. Her breathing was still a bit labored, so I tracked down her inhaler in the half-bathroom and gave her a little squirt. Nothing big, just enough to relax her the rest of the way. And when Asia took her first big, unimpeded breath, I smiled.
“So, I have a question.”
She looked up at me. “Okay.”
I smiled. “How do you feel about snacks and Disney movies?”
Her eyes lit up. “Can we watch Ariel? I love Ariel. She swims a lot.”
I giggled. “You like swimming?”
She nodded. “Mhm. When it’s not rainy.”
“Well, why don’t we go into the kitchen, scrounge up some yummy snacks and drinks, then put on some Disney movies? We can cuddle and giggle. Maybe color while we watch after we eat.”
“Daddy doesn’t let me color on the couch with markers.”
I grinned. “What about gel pens?”
Asia took off down the hallway, giggling and yelling to no one in particular about the incredible day we were about to have. And as thunder cracked and lightning flashed, we hunkered down for a lazy Sunday. I turned on Disney+ and put onThe Little Mermaidwhile we curled up beneath a rainbow-colored blanket Asia had pulled off her bed. And as we dipped our hands into a massive bowl of caramel-coated popcorn, we played one movie after another.
Beauty and the Beast.
Cinderella.
The Princess and the Frog.
Brave.
Then four o’clock rolled around, and it was time to start figuring out dinner.
“So, what do we want to eat in a couple of hours?” I asked.
Asia stretched. “Pizza?”
I gasped. “That is a fantastic idea. But do we want to make it or order it?”
She giggled. “Order it. Then, we can watch another movie.”
I pointed at her. “I like your style. What movie do you want to watch before bed?”
She smiled so big, her eyes closed. “My favorite.Mulan.”
I gawked. “I thought your favorite was Ariel! My favorite isMulan!”
Asia got up and started jumping on the couch. “Be a man! Be a man! Be a man!”
She jumped into my arms, and I swung her around before we collapsed back against the couch. We turned on the animated version ofMulan, and the sweet little girl was so attached to the television that she didn’t even register my singing. I shot a text off to Gavin, letting him know about our plans to order pizza for the evening, and when he texted back his order, I wrinkled my nose.
“Ew,” I murmured.
“What?” Asia asked.
I peeked down at her. “Your father eats olives on his pizza.”
She stuck out her tongue and shook her head, making both of us laugh. This girl really had an outgoing personality once someone was able to peel back those hesitant layers. It hurt my heart to think she had lived so much life that she felt she had to conceal her true self from the world for fear of, well, whatever frightened her. It also made me fall in love with her even more.
