She wraps her arms tightly around my waist, and I place my hand on the back of her head, the other full around her back, locking her into place.
I press kisses to her hair and just rock her side to side, my eyes squeezed shut against the tears that threaten to fall.
I need to go check on my brother. I need to make sure that he's okay, but for a couple of seconds, I just need to exist in heaven, my wife in my arms, my children giggling in the next room while they watch a silly movie with their cousins. When I hear the girl's soft laughter, it warms my heart even more.
"I'm going to go check on him. Mom said he was sleeping when they left, I'm sure he still is, but..."
"Go. We'll order in tonight. The kids were hinting at Chinese," she pulls back to grin at me, and I reach my hands up, thumb dusting over the freckles on her cheeks.
So damn beautiful, and mine.
But one day, she won't be...
She'll be gone...
Just like Carrie...
My jaw tightens at those thoughts, more frequent ever since we got the call from my parents that morning telling us that Carrie died.
Cupping her face, I press my lips to hers, lingering and just...feelingher against me. "I love you."
"I love you, Atlas," she grins. "Always have."
"Always will," I respond, before we walk to the foyer to grab my keys.
When I peek into the living room, I see Molly and Jem on the big couch in front of the TV.
Liam dragged his bean bag chairs down from his room for him and his brother, allowing the girls to stretch out on our couches.
My boys,I think with pride. They don't look up from the screen, completely enraptured in their movie.
I press another kiss to my wife's smiling lips.
"I'll be back in a bit."
???
The bad feeling in my gut only gets worse when I get to my parents' house, and it's completely dark.
My parents responded to my text on the way over, saying that Silas was sleeping when they left earlier this afternoon.
They're dropping off Silas' and the girls' things at Carrie's parents' house. That's where the girls will be staying, while they figure out their next steps. My parents are staying at Carrie's parents' house tonight before they drive back tomorrow morning.
The girls didn't want to go back to living in the house their mother died in. Molly hyperventilated when they discussed it and Silas had to leave the room.
Wendy and my mom had to talk her through her panic, while my dad and I got the boys and Jem out of there to distract them.
I walk into the house, and the energy already feels off.
Wrong.
"Si?" I call out into the quiet house, but get no response.
Turning on the lights as I go, I walk upstairs to his bedroom. Taking a deep breath, I push open the door.
His bedroom is dark, and when my eyes adjust, my mind doesn't comprehend what I'm seeing at first.
"Silas... what are you doing?"
