Chapter 64 – Sanctuary

Bella

"Look, Andy, she's still so cute when she's napping, isn't she," I heard Grammy whisper to Poppa. I smiled at the sound of her sweet, soft voice. I had missed it so much.

"That she is, Annabella, my dear," Poppa agreed. My eyes were closed, but I could clearly sense his grin and feel his whiskers tickling my cheek as he kissed it. How they were here now, I didn't know, but I wanted to climb into Poppa's lap on the porch swing and hear him tell me and Grammy one of his funny stories. I hoped Grammy had cookies and lemonade. She always had them when I needed comforting, and for some reason, I knew I needed it badly right now.

I sat up and looked around me to find I had been lying on one of Grammy's quilts on the front porch of their house, just like I had when I was little. Grammy and Poppa were on the porch swing, holding hands and swaying back and forth. Poppa was nuzzling Grammy's neck now, and she giggled, leaning into him. It was bright and warm out, and all the neighborhood kids were outside playing, the happy sounds of their laughter echoing up and down the street.

"Memories and dreams are amazing things, aren't they, dear? They can be so much alike," Grammy said to me, motioning for me to come and sit down in front of her, so she could play with my hair like she used to do when I was small. "I always loved your hair," Grammy smiled, as she continued to gently run her fingers through the strands. "I used to battle with Renee to keep her from cutting it. I know it was a lot of work, but it was always so beautiful. You have the same pretty curls as your Poppa and daddy."

I watched the children in the neighborhood playing, as Grammy continued to play with my hair, twirling my curls around her fingers, just like she used to. I didn't remember there being so many kids here, but every yard was occupied, and the sidewalks and street were full of children playing. Many of them looked so familiar, and though I felt a small twinge of sadness, it was hard to be unhappy when they all seemed fine and joyful now.

"They're happy here," Grammy smiled. "You and the girls do so good for them, trying to help so many, but the ones who come here love it and wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

A striking little blonde-haired girl, probably no more than four, was riding a tricycle down the sidewalk. She had a skateboard tied to the back of it, with a cardboard box tied to the skateboard. She stopped in front of the house when I waved at her, a huge grin across her face.

"Hi!" I called out to her. She waved in return before she climbed off the tricycle and went back to the box, pulling out two tiny kittens. She came running up to the house and handed them to me. I looked at her in confusion, but she just shrugged and smiled.

"This one is Sebastian. He's a boy," she said with a giggle, as she patted the solid black kitten's head, "and this one is Anastasia. She's a girl." Anastasia was a pudgy little black and white tuxedo kitten. "They're really hungry, so you should feed them soon," she said, as she ran back towards the sidewalk. I had no idea who this child was, or why she was handing me her pets.

"Wait, what's your name?" I asked before she peddled away. She turned around in the neighbor's driveway before heading back in the direction she had come.

"Jessie!" she called to me, as she passed the house again. She was laughing and singing, as she peddled down the sidewalk, but she stopped in front of the house next door. She was glaring up the walkway at something, or someone. I stood up from Grammy and walked a few feet down in front of the house, so I could see where her glare was aimed.

On the front steps of the house next door was another little girl, about the same age, completely ignoring her. Her delicate hair fluttered in the breeze, as she played with a fashion doll and sang to herself. However, when she looked up at me, I felt like ice water was being poured down my back. She seemed familiar, but I couldn't quite place her. The fashion doll in her hand had long brown hair, and she proceeded to wrench the head from the doll, as she continued to stare at me with cold eyes. She collected her toys and ran back into the house, sticking her tongue out at Jessie as she went.

Jessie started peddling again, heading back down the sidewalk, swerving around a little boy who was walking from the opposite direction. He passed in front of the house, waving at Grammy and Poppa as he went, stopping only a moment to stare at me. A huge smile spread across his face, and then he waved and blew me a kiss, before he began trying to whistle without his front teeth as he moved along. I realized he looked familiar as well.

Grammy called me back to the porch, where I sat down again and pulled the kittens into my lap, as she continued playing with my hair. "Rest now, Bella," Grammy whispered to me, laying my head in her lap. Poppa leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"Better do what your Grammy says and enjoy it while you can. You're going to be terribly busy before you know it," he whispered in my ear and grinned, heading toward the door. Before he went in, he stopped and turned to me. "You're a good girl, Bella. Remember, my love, true sanctuary is only found in the arms of those you love and who love you."

He looked at me a long moment, smiling again before going inside.

I closed my eyes and listened to Grammy hum a familiar tune, one she used to sing to me often when she would lay me down for a nap. Her soft hand caressed my face, as the gentle breeze flowed over me, and the sun's warm rays relaxed me bit by bit. Grammy kissed my cheek, running her fingers slowly through my curls, as I drifted off to the lullaby of her sweet voice echoing in my mind.