Smiles

She smiled at me tonight.

Evelynn has smiled before. Real smiles, too. But this was the first time she smiled AT ME. And it wasn't a passing smile either. It was a long smile. She was falling asleep in my arms and I touched her cheek and she smiled at me. Really big and beautiful, she gave that toothless grin that makes her look so contented. I wish to the highest heavens that I could have taken a picture of that smile to show everyone. I suppose I'll have to be satisfied with my mental picture.

Then she closed her eyes and the smile went away. When I got over my momentary giggling bout, and ceased kissing her soft, pudgy cheek, I said, "Mama loves you." And she smiled at me again.