Grand Haven Cinemas

Allie sat next to Topher, their fingers threaded together as they watched the newest Star Wars movie. Al loved Star Wars but she knew Evie didn't. The fact that she gave up her Friday night of reading another book or taking more pictures of everyone and everything, said so much about her.

"Thanks for coming," Al whispered.

"Free popcorn and soda. It works," she whispered back with a shrug.

Al looked at Topher as he let go of her hand and slipped his arm around her shoulder. Whoa!

"Come to the bathroom with me!" she whispered to Evie, jumping up and climbing over everyone to get out.

Evie got up and headed out the same way, leaving her popcorn and soda behind.

Allie was pacing the bathroom, wiping her cheeks.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't think I want this. I like him but I'm only thirteen! What was I thinking?!"

"What happened, Al?"

"I freaked! He put his arm around me and I don't think I liked it! What's wrong with me?"

Evie would give anything to have the boy she liked put his arm around her. Hold her hand. Smile at her. Heck, she'd settle for a hello!

She guessed that was the big difference between thirteen year olds and fifteen year olds.

"I think I'm going to call Dad. I want to go home."

"Hang on. Do you still like Topher?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's go back in there. If he tries to put his arm around you, just ask if you can just hold hands."

"What if he doesn't like me anymore?"

"If he doesn't like you because you don't want to do something that makes you uncomfortable, he's not the right boy for you."

She nodded and dried her tears. "Thanks, Eve."

Beth and Nathan were in the living room when the girls got home around nine.

"Hi, girls," Beth greeted. "How was the movie?"

Allie flopped down on the couch. "Who knows."

"Well, daughter," Nathan teased. "You were there. You should know."

"It was great and then terrible and then okay."

Beth chuckled and put her arm around Allie. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Yes….no! I don't know!"

Evie kissed the top of her Aunt Beth's head. "I'm going to bed. Night."

"Night, sweetie."

"Night, Eve," Allie told her. "Thank you."

"What is family for?"

Allie wiped her cheeks and leaned her head on Beth's shoulder.

"Honey? What happened?"

"Everything was fine, Mom! He was just holding my hand. And then he let go and put his arm around me…"

"He what?! You're thirteen!" Nathan yelled.

"Nate, shush, love. Let Allie tell us."

Beth put her hand on Nathan's knee and then nodded at Allie.

"What happened next?"

"I freaked out! I ran off to the bathroom."

"Aw, Allie."

"I didn't like that. It felt weird. Like we were doing something wrong."

"If you're not comfortable, don't feel like you have to do something."

"Especially when you are only thirteen!" Nathan told them.

Beth squeezed his knee. "What else, Allie?"

"I told him I just want to be his friend."

"Good for you, sweetheart."

"Is there something wrong with me?" Allie wondered.

"Of course not. Why do you think that?"

"I don't know. Nevermind."

"You can tell us."

"You and Dad...you touch each other and kiss a lot." Beth blushed and Nathan laughed quietly. "I don't see what's so great about it. He held my hand and all but why do it? I just felt like we were supposed to. Being boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Sweetie, you are thirteen and your hormones and feelings are just getting started. As you get older, like Evie's age, you'll feel differently."

"And when I'm old like you and Dad?"

"You'll feel even more different."

"If you say so."

"I do. Don't worry about it and don't try to grow up too fast. Give yourself time."

Nathan stood up and held out his arms. Allie gave him a hug. "Love you, Dad."

"Even though I'm old?"

She giggled and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Yep."

He watched her go up the stairs and rejoined Beth on the couch. "Hi."

"Hi," she said, smiling at him. "You're pretty cute."

"So are you."

She grabbed the neckline of his shirt and gently pulled. "Come over here."

"Okay."

After a few moments, Beth jumped when she felt a different hand on her knee. A little hand.

"Dada?" the tiny voice that belonged to the tiny hand said.

"Hi, Cam. What are you doing up?"

He raised his arms so Nathan picked him up.

"I want Mommy."

"I know, bud. Beth and I will make sure you see her very soon."

The next morning, Beth texted Becki to see if she was having a good day.

"Not really."

"Well, a certain adorable Cammie is missing his Mama."

"I miss him too." The crying emoji prompted Beth to hit the call icon.

"What's happening, Becki?"

"My hair," she cried. "It's falling out."

"Oh, sweetie. It will be okay. I'll bring Cam to you and some other things that might make you feel better."

"I don't want him to see me like this."

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"We will be up soon."

"What do you think, Cammie? Pink or purple flowers?" Beth asked him, holding up two head scarves for Cam to choose.

"Um…..both!"

"Both it is!" she agreed. Afterall, they were both beautiful and matched the robe she had in her hand. It was what Beth would want to wear if she were to shave her head.

"Ice keem?"

"Yes, let's go pay for these presents for Mama and then we will go get her ice cream and brownies."

He skipped slightly ahead of Beth and then came back multiple times, excited to be seeing Mama today.

"Mama gonna have no hair?" he asked for the fifth time that morning.

Per Becki's instructions, Beth and Nathan had talked about what to expect. Then to make him not feel as weird, Nathan had her shave his head again and JJ and Julian went along for the ride. Then, of course, Cam wanted to be just like the boys.

"Yep, hon. Just like you. You and Mama will match."

"Okay! I match Mama."

Beth's heart had accepted and fallen in love with the little sweet boy next to her. She had also accepted and become really great friends with his Mom. Something she hadn't expected to do but was now something she cherished.

When they pulled into the driveway of Becki's place, Cam was asleep. Beth sent her a text and then got out and opened the passenger door. Such a sweet little guy with his thumb in his mouth.

"Come here, bud. Let's go see Mama."

He sighed and cuddled up to her neck as they walked up to the door. Becki opened the door with tears on her face and puffy eyes.

"Hey there," Beth said, giving her a one armed hug. "I brought someone just for you," she said, handing him to her. "He missed you so much."

"I missed him too."

"I have some other things. I will be right back. You go have a seat."

When she walked back in, they were cuddled on the couch with a blanket over both of them. Beth took her items to the kitchen. She put the pot of chicken and rice soup on the stove over a low heat. Then she put the ice cream in the freezer and the rest in the fridge.

She washed the one bowl and spoon that were in the sink and put them away and then disinfected the counters and took out the trash.

"You don't have to do that, Beth."

"I want to."

Becki crossed her arms in front of her and leaned against the doorframe. "Thank you for coming and bringing him."

"Of course."

"How's everyone else doing?"

"Just fine. I brought you some soup. Have you eaten today?"

"No. I'm not hungry."

"Well, you need to stay strong so before we leave, humor me, okay? Plus, Nate says my soup rivals his mom's."

"Wow, that's quite the compliment."

Beth handed her the bag from the specialty store. "For you."

"What did you do?"

"Open."

She pulled out the two scarves, one by one and then the silky robe that matched. They were beyond beautiful and that was the last thing she felt right now.

"I also brought clippers so that we can even things out for you, if you want."

"How did Cam respond to me losing my hair?"

"He was just fine. Then Nate and all the boys had me shave their heads again, just like before Nate's surgery."

"And Cam wanted to be just like them."

"And you. He likes the fact that you and he match. 'I match Mama!' he told us."

"Mama?" he said from the doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"Hi, Cammie!" she said, kneeling down to hug him. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Mama." He took off his hat and grinned. "I match you! And Dada and JJ and Juju."

"You do? Wow! That is so cool!"

"Can I see your head?"

She touched the hood of her sweatshirt that covered her just enough. "Maybe in a bit. I need Beth to cut my hair first."

"I can watch?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yep! And then we can have ice keem and bownies."

"Yum! That sounds like a deal."

Becki went and took a shower, put on her new robe over her pajama pants and then walked back into the kitchen where Beth and Cam waited. "Okay, let's get this done."

Beth stood behind her stool and slowly removed her towel from her head. The poor thing had patches of hair and patches of bald spots. "Okay, Becks…let's do this."

Cam watched from the counter where he played on Beth's phone. He was being brave about the whole thing which was a blessing.

"You look cool!" Cam yelled, pumping his fist.

"Sorry, he learned that from his brothers," Beth admitted.

"Brothers….yes, he does have brothers, doesn't he?"

"Yeah. Hey, you are coming to Thanksgiving aren't you?" Beth asked her.

"I don't know. I…"

"Well, think about it. Just so you know though, I make really good turkey and stuffing."

"Nothing really tastes good right now."

Beth held out the mirror. "You have a nicely shaped head," she told her.

Then both women started to giggle. "Um, thanks?"

"Look. Trust me."

"Mama, you look pretty," Cam told her, sincerity on his little face.

"Thank you, baby."

She took a deep breath and turned the mirror over. Her eyes filled with tears and she brought a shaky hand up to her smooth scalp. "Wow."

Beth smiled. Then she handed her the clippers. "Now, my turn."

Both Becki and Cam looked at her like she had sprouted a second head. "I will absolutely not cut your hair, Beth," Becki refused. "You have gorgeous hair and Nathan would have my hide if I cut it."

Beth pulled a scarf out of her back pocket. "It's my head. I want to shave it so we match. I don't like feeling left out."

Cam giggled. "Mama Bet gonna match me and you!"

When Beth and Cam returned home, Cam was bursting at the seams to spill her beans. She was nervous. But, it was hair. It would grow back and why shouldn't she show support to her best friend?

"We are home!" he yelled, running in to find everyone. "Guess what!!"

She giggled and touched the red and white flowered scarf on her head.

"Mommy!" JJ yelled, running up to her and hugging her waist.

"Hi, bud." She kissed him all over his smooth head. "Where is everyone?"

"The girls are upstairs doing their nails and stuff. Girly things."

"Okay. And Julian and Daddy?"

"They are talking in Daddy's office."

"It's getting late. Why don't you go take a bath before everyone else tries to get in there."

"Aw, Mom. I don't want to."

"Tough. Bath and then pajamas. Church services tomorrow."

"Fine."

Cam pulled Nathan into the room by the hand, pointing. "See! Mama Bet matches."

Nathan's eyes met hers as he walked over. "Hi, honey."

"Hey."

He reached up and touched her scarf.

"Are you mad?"

"No. How can I be? You are supporting Becki. It's a very sweet thing to do."

"Look at it this way. We will save a lot of money on shampoo."

He chuckled and slowly removed her scarf. "I'm going to miss your hair. It was so beautiful." He loved running his hands through it as they relaxed to go to sleep.

"It will grow back. Just like yours and the boys and Becki's."

Cam had run off to see the girls so Nathan leaned down to give her a kiss. "I love you very much, Beth Grant."

"I love you more."