“Mommy, when is Daddy coming home?”
“Remember how I explained what happened to Daddy? He passed away, sweetie.”
“But when is he coming home?”
“Daddy lives with the angels now. He has a new home.”
“Why does he want to live with angels? Why doesn’t he want to live with us?”
Elaine grasped his hand. “He did want to live with us, baby, more than anything in the world. He just couldn’t anymore.”
“Don’t you remember?” Layla huffed. “Mommy already told us. He died because of the bad men.” She might only be four, and Andy might only be three, but as shape shifter children, they were more perceptive than human kids. In some ways, they might as well both be going on fifteen, if not forty.
Andy scratched his nose. “Was Daddy a bad man too?”
That was a new question, and it sucked the last little bit of wind out of her lungs. “No, absolutely not. Your daddy was one of the best men I’ve ever known, and he loved you both so much. He died protecting our friends at the Ursa Lodge. Remember them?”
He nodded. “Can we see Uncle Connor soon?”
“I don’t think so, sweetie. Uncle Connor is busy at the lodge, and it’s far away.”
“But I like how he tickles me.” Andy pointed at his belly. “He gives me zerbits on my tummy.”
“You mean like this?” Elaine rolled him onto his back and made her lips vibrate on his belly until he squealed. When Layla inched away, she grabbed her daughter and tickled her as well.
“There they are.” Elaine’s cousin Toni stood in the bedroom doorway, wielding her shampoo bottle. “I’ve been searching all over for you two. If you don’t have your baths, your mom won’t be able to finish your bedtime story. Don’t you want to know what happens toThe Forgetful Bunny?”
The children hopped off the bed.
“Give your mom a hug before I steal you away,” said Toni.
Layla wrapped her arms around Elaine’s neck.
“I love you,” Elaine whispered.
When Layla stepped away, Andy poked her on the knee. “Mommy?”
She scooped him up and squeezed him. “Yes, baby?”
“Do I still look just like my daddy?”
Elaine forced another smile. She was so unaccustomed to smiling these days, and it felt like peanut brittle snapping. “Yeah. You both have his dark eyes and his brown hair. When you look in the mirror, he’ll be looking right back at you. Now go have your bath. I love you.” With a pat on his bum, she sent them out of the room.
Toni remained for a moment longer, her shoulders sagging in empathy. “Day by day.”
“Day by day.”
“I know the past seven months have been hard.”
The hardest thing she’d ever done in her life. The word “hard” didn’t even begin to encompass it.
“You’re doing great, kiddo. Lloyd would be so proud of you.”
Lloyd.
Elaine nodded, her throat too scratchy to talk.
“Let me put the mites to bed tonight. You rest up.”
