"That's right, Brave, you were in my belly," I say.
Jubilee looks up at me inquisitively and asks, "I was in yo belly, too, mama?"
"No," I say, searching for more words.
Jubilee screws up her face and asks, "I was in Daddy's belly?"
"No," I say, knowing that I must come up with something other than No.
"You were in someone else's belly," I say. Blank stares from both towels. "We don't know who," I continue, "but you were in a lady's belly, and after that you were in an orphanage, and then we came to you and scooped you up," I say, bringing her into my arms and planting kisses all over her little face, her wet hair dripping onto my cheeks. She is smiling now, and I decide to go on.
"Before we could get to you, we sent you presents," I say.
"Pwesents!" she says. "Candy!"
"That's right!" I say, "candy and toys and clothes and pictures. We couldn't WAIT to get to you. We missed you so much."
Jubilee was beaming now, and Brave was smiling, too, and I was glad the L0RD had given me the words I needed. I laid Jubi in her bed a few minutes later, keenly aware that many, many more such conversations are in our future. I am looking forward to having them, because over time they will link up to a story. Her story. Through her own eyes.
