I give her hair a good wash before putting as much conditioner in it as I can. Slowly, starting at the ends, I comb upward until I reach her roots, then I move on to another small section. Mila sits quietly while I work inch by inch. Eventually the water cools, and I don’t want her to get too cold, so I decide to finish outside of the bath.
I’ve worked through about a third of her hair, but at least I’ve determined we don’t need to cut it. It’s just going to take a little time and patience.
As I’m drying her off, she reaches out and places both of her hands on my cheeks. “Are you Mila’s?” she asks, looking me directly in the eye.
It takes me by surprise. I’m not sure what to say. “Yeah, I’m Mila’s friend,” I tell her.
“Mine,” she says, hugging me tightly around the neck.
Rage chuckles from outside the door, and I roll my eyes.
“You know, you and your brother are awfully possessive,” I tell her.
I help her dry her mermaid, and then we move on to brushing her teeth. “You should make her a dentist appointment. I don’t see any cavities, but I think it would be a good idea to makesure,” I tell him, my gaze focused on polishing every one of her pearly whites.
“That’s a good idea,” he agrees. His boots thud down the hall as he walks away.
Her little brows pull together just like Rage’s do when he’s thinking hard over something. She tips her head to look out the door.
“That’s Mila’s big brother,” I tell her. “He loves you very much.”
When we’re finished, I carry her from the room. “Let’s see if your brother has any movies to watch.”
Rage is in the kitchen on the phone when we get out to the living room, but Cole and Carson are lounging on the couch.
They both sit up straight when they see the two of us. “Hi, girls,” they both say in unison.
I laugh and Mila looks at me. “This is Cole and Carson. They’re silly, aren’t they?”
She hugs her doll to her chest.
“Who do you have there?” Cole asks.
Carson shoves him in the arm. “Who does she have? That’s Ariel.” He says it like everyone in the world should know the doll’s name. I didn’t until I saw it on the box yesterday when I opened it.
Mila giggles, and my heart squeezes. It’s the cutest laugh I’ve ever heard in my life.
“I can’t believe you know the doll’s name,” Cole snips back at him.
“Hey, I did my fair share of babysitting back home. I’ve had tea with Ariel and all of the other princesses for that matter.”
Rage steps into the room, his gaze roaming over Mila and me before stopping on Carson. “If I were you, I wouldn’t admit that out loud.”
Carson relaxes into the couch. “Just you wait …” he says, pointing at Rage. “Soon you’ll know all their names. Ain’t nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Whatever. Is the trailer clear?” Rage asks them.
“Yeah. They got it taped off, but no one is out there.”
“Where is …” He looks at his sister, who is once again hiding her face. He turns back to the guys.
Cole doesn’t need him to explain further. “He’s behind bars. They got him on a bunch of charges from drug possession all the way up to child endangerment. He also had an outstanding warrant over in Teton County.”
“Good. I want to run over there tonight. I’ll need someone to stay here and keep an eye on things while I’m out.”
“We got you, brother,” they both say in unison.
Mila lifts her head at this. She looks at me. “Mila’s brother.” She points at her own chest.