She Simply Knows

Children often puzzle over the right Mother’s Day gift. Millions of us received flowers, candy, breakfast in bed, manicure gift certificates.

They’re all great gifts, to be sure.

I wouldn’t complain about any of them.

But what Maggie gave me was far better—a gift destined to spin me into a glorious frenzy because she knows I embrace things impossible.

I believe easily.

In fact, I believed in her without ever seeing her, my perfect baby waiting in China to fly across the sea.

This year she found my gift in The Netherlands and flew it across another sea. (Distance does not deter us.)

A round fairy door with a scrolled hinge fit for a hobbit.

A decorative doorknob.

A silver key.

A window.

A sprouting red mushroom.

A jar of fairy glitter to sprinkle in my hair so I can shrink to a reasonable size and enter.

She knows I believe an entire house exists on the other side.

One day she’ll return home, and I’ll wave to her at that bit of a window. My voice, a tiny whisper, will call, “Sweetheart, toss fairy dust in your hair and come inside. I’ve made dinner: strawberry shortcake and lemon squares. Just for you.”

And she’ll do it.