Free What Happiness Looks Like (Promises) by Karen Lenfestey Page B

even though Joely didn’t know if she had ever shaken hands before. Such a formal, grown-up custom. Anna was more into hugs.
    The silence in the foyer nearly suffocated Joely.
    “Where do you want to go?” Jake finally asked.
    Joely explained that Anna loved a nearby farm that had been converted into a petting zoo.
    “Hopefully it will warm up soon.” Jake stuck his hand in his coat pocket, pulled out and jingled his keys. He looked at Anna. “Have you ever ridden in a BMW before?”
    Anna jumped up and down, even though she probably didn’t know why she was supposed to be excited. “Can I, Mom? Please?”
    Joely reached in the foyer closet and pulled out her wide-brimmed hat. Eyeing her cane, she chose to leave it behind. Her body felt pretty good today. “If your booster seat will fit.”
    He pointed toward her hat. “What’s that for?”
    “The sun bothers me sometimes.” She knew better than to share the inconveniences of lupus with him.
    Even though Jake offered, Joely finagled the booster into the back of the shiny black car all by herself. Then she sat next to Anna. Joely didn’t want to sit next to him. He could be their chauffeur.
    He revved the engine like a teenaged boy showing off. He checked the rearview mirror for a reaction, seeming pleased when Anna’s eyelids widened.
    Joely could see that Anna wanted so badly to like him.
    Once at the zoo, they fed the ducks in the pond. It was one of those sunny but windy days that hinted spring was on its way. They kept zipping and unzipping their jackets to stay comfortable. After petting some baby chicks, they went to the goat area, which smelled like manure. Anna pinched her nose.
    Jake paid for a bucket of food then opened the gate for Anna to go in. His gaze fell toward his polished loafers. “I think I’ll wait out here.”
    Even though Joely wasn’t surprised, a wave of anger surged through her. Didn’t he realize that spending time with your kid meant your shoes might get dirty?
    Anna marched confidently toward the center of the fenced area and Joely trailed close behind her. Anna threw some of the pellets onto the ground. “Here, goats. I have treats.”
    The goats pushed and shoved each other when they saw that Anna had food. One gray goat climbed on top of the back of another goat in an attempt to get closer. The goat slipped off. Undeterred, it climbed up again and started chomping on Anna’s long braid.
    “Ow!” Anna cried.
    Joely tried to extricate her daughter’s hair from the goat’s mouth without tugging it, but it wasn’t working. The goat kept chomping, pulling hair out of the braid.
    “Ow, ow, ow!” Anna flailed the bucket in the air, spilling food onto the dirt. This lured even more goats.
    Joely’s hat fell off her head and she let it go. “I’m doing the best I can, sweetie.” She tried to push the goat away with her hip, but the goat wouldn’t yield.
    Anna got knocked to the ground and screamed. The goat nibbled at her back while Joely pushed it away. From out of nowhere, Jake wrapped his arms around Anna and hoisted her into the air. Finally, Anna was free. He placed her on the ground outside of the gate just as her face turned pink.
    Joely hurried to be next to her. She sat on a wooden bench and pulled her daughter onto her lap. “It’s OK. That was scary, but you’re alright.” Anna buried her face in Joely’s neck and cried. Joely glared at Jake. “What took you so long?”
    “Sorry. I went to find a drinking fountain.”
    Glancing over her shoulder, Joely searched for her straw hat. She chuckled and pointed. “Look, they’re eating my hat now.” Anything to distract Anna.
    Anna caught her breath and paused to watch two goats playing tug-of-war with Joely’s hat.
    Fidgeting, Jake kept tucking his hands in and out of his pockets. “What do you want to do next?” He pointed toward a whitewashed fence. “It looks like there are pigs over there. How would you like a piggyback ride to look at the