Sunday brings Ben and Taylor to the house,
in a borrowed truck
to bring Magpie to her new home
Anna is smitten
and for once doesn’t have
her earbuds in
when Magpie arrives

Gabby and Dad help unload her
and get her settled in her stall
fresh water and hay
Ben leans his head against her muzzle
and I am glad she will be nearby
her importance to him
making her special to me
and I vow to bring her special treats
so that she knows she is loved

Ben and Paul are like old friends
talking and laughing
about school and sports
and I realize that without any fanfare
or formalities
Ben has become a part of us
and even Taylor
who fits in,
nestled between Anna and I in age
with a maturity that only grief can bring

we get a phone call from Beka
to round out the night
almost the whole family together
and even though it ruins
Taylor’s Christmas surprise
she still squeals when she finds out
all at once
fifteen
and excited about life
Beka talks to her for almost
a half an hour
and she hangs up flushed and giddy
this brings out of Ben the kind of laughter I remember
when I first met him
before so much changed
before I even knew who he was

we watch Christmas movies
new and old
long into the night

my definition of family
expanding