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“Mommy.” June says. Lucy looks over at her daughter. She has two little pigtails in her hair (courtesy of Tim. He loves doing the girls hair, when they let him.)
“Yes baby?”
“I love Ava and Daisy.” June says. She looks down at her feet. She has cute little flowered socks on. Tim got the kids ready this morning since she had to work late and was coming into work late. She usually lays the kids clothes out (especially the twins—they were only six and Levi likes to just throw anything on (and not where underwear). But she didn’t have time to do it.
She trusts Tim to get them dressed and she sees that he did a pretty good job. She has a flowered dress on and white leggings.
“You do?” Lucy says. “Well they are pretty great.”
“I am glad they are my sisters.” June says. Lucy kneels down into front of her. “Where are they?”
Lucy huffs out a laugh and presses a kiss to her cheek. “Ava is at softball practice and Daisy is at karate.” Lucy says and then she looks at her watch. It was almost time to pick them up.
“I want to see them.” June says and pouts a little. “I miss them.”
“I know baby.” Lucy stands up and ruffles her hair. “Daddy will get them on his way home and then they will be home okay?”
“Okay!” June says and her eyes light up a little. “Thank you mommy.” Lucy huffs out a laugh and watches as June skips off.
***
Lucy notices it that night, June sticks to Ava and Daisy. Ava doesn’t notice but Daisy does. She just smiles at June and doesn’t say anything. June follows them when they need to wash their hands for dinner and then when they are cleaning up.
“June,” Lucy says. “It’s time to get ready for bed.”
“What about Ava and Daisy?” June asks and she gives Lucy a puppy dog look. Lucy sighs and looks at her two older daughters. The twins bed time was 30 minutes before Ava and Daisy’s. It was only because it took longer for them to get ready for bed. By the time they were all tucked in Ava and Daisy were getting ready.
“They will get ready soon June.” Lucy says. “You need a shower.”
“Daddy made me take one this morning.” June says. Lucy looks over at Tim who just shrugs.
“It was easier.” He says. Lucy sighs and looks at Levi who definitely needs a shower.
“Go get in your pajamas June.” Lucy says. “And then you can hang out with your sisters for a little bit.”
June runs off without another word.
After that, June does whatever her sisters do. She brushes her teeth with her sisters next to her. Although Lucy’s not sure she’s paying attention to that.
She put on pajamas similar to what Ava and Daisy were wearing and followed them to Daisy’s room.
Ava and Daisy were working on a play together. Neither of them would tell Tim or Lucy what it was about. It was just between the two of them and it was no different tonight.
“June,” Ava says. “This is a big girls play.”
“I am a big girl.” June says. “I’m six.”
“You are in kindergarten.” Ava points out. Lucy raises her eyebrows, she really hopes Ava isn’t about to leave her sister out.
“So?” June says. “I’m still a big girl.”
“Just let her watch Ava.” Daisy says. “I’m pretty sure Levi has seen it.”
“Fine.” Ava says. “But you are sworn to secrecy June.”
“Okay.” June says and she bounces into the room. The door closes behind her after that.
***
It continues for the next few days. June does whatever Ava and Daisy do. They are usually together, so Lucy just watches as June follows her sisters around. She has to run to catch up with them.
It’s cute.
Except when Ava decides it’s a good idea to climb a tree. Daisy backs away because as much as she loves hanging out with Ava, climbing a tree wasn’t her thing. June however looks up at Ava who is sitting on a branch (much to Lucy’s horror) and decides to give it a try.
She’s halfway up when Lucy notices and her heart is in her stomach. “June Lucille Bradford.” Lucy says. Her youngest daughter turns to look at her. Lucy can tell she’s terrified. “Get down.”
“I-I can’t.” June says biting her lip. “I’m scared.” Lucy looks up at Ava whose eyes are wide watching her little sister.
“Why did you climb up?” Lucy asks. June shrugs and holds onto the branch she’s on. “I want to be like Ava.”
“Baby—Tim!” She yells. She doesn’t even know where Tim is. He might not even be where he could hear her. “Junie, just hold on. Ava don’t move.”
“I’m trapped mom.” Ava says. “I can help—”
“Just stay put.” Lucy says. “Tim!” She hears the back door open and turns to see Tim.
“What’s wrong?”
Lucy points to the tree and his eyes widen like Ava’s. “She can’t get down.” Lucy says. “She’s scared.”
Tim sighs but makes his way over to the tree. “Hi Junebug.” He says. “I see you are in quite a pickle.”
“Hi daddy.”
“Hi dad!” Ava calls. Tim looks up and she sees him tense up even more. “I’m up here too.”
“I see that Aves.” Tim says and then turns his attention back to June. “June, you have to try and get down.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know baby.” Tim says. “But you have to try. Just try and start climbing down okay?” June shakes her head. Tim looks back at Lucy.
“I don’t even know how she got that high.” Lucy says. She expected this from Ava and Levi. But Daisy and June were more cautious.
“Come on Junie.” Tim says. “I can’t climb up there and your sister can’t get down if you are stuck there.”
“Daddy.” June pouts.
“Come on June.” Tim says making his voice stern. “Now.”
“Tim.” Lucy says. “She’s scared. Don’t—”
“I know which is why she needs a little push.” Tim says. “We can’t baby her.” Lucy sighs but he’s right.
He’s absolutely right.
“June. It’s okay sweetie. Daddy will be right here.” Lucy says gently. “Just try and climb down.” June swallows and then starts to turn around. Lucy watched as she slowly climbs down.
It’s slow and Lucy wants to reach up and grab her. But she doesn’t. She lets June do it on her own. She finally gets down low enough that Tim can grab her. She wraps herself around him and buries her face into his shoulder.
“Sweetie,” Lucy says when Tim puts her down after a little while. She bends down into front of June. “I know you love your sisters but you can’t do everything they can do. Not yet. You are your own person and if you don’t want to do something you don’t have to. Just because Ava can do it. Or Daisy. You don’t have to do it. They love you too.”
“It’s true.” Daisy says. “But I thought you were really brave to try and climb up the tree.”
“Me too.” Ava says. June looks at both her sisters, and Lucy sees admiration in her six year old’s eyes.
“I just love you.” June says hanging her head. Lucy pulls her into a hug.
“I know baby.” Lucy whispers. “They love you too. But it’s okay to not to everything they do. Okay?”
“Okay.” June says. Lucy presses a kiss to her cheek and then stands up.
“Come on June,” Daisy says coming up to stand next to June. “We can go make our own play just the three of us. Ava joins them too and takes June’s hand. They walk off and Lucy can’t help but smile.
Her girls. Her beautiful daughters.
June would probably still copy her sisters but Lucy hopes she learned her lesson. She hopes that Ava knows her little sister is watching her and wanting to do everything she does.
Lucy knows one thing for sure—they would always have each other and that’s all that Lucy could ever want.