“I will.” I picked up Cody. “Diego and Sofia have to go home now. They’ll be back another time.”
“Awww, but I want to play with Diego some more,” Cody protested.
“I know you do, but they have to go home now. I promise you’ll see them again. Isabella is my sister, so we see each other a lot.”
His bottom lip jutted when he answered. “Okay. Can I hug Diego goodbye?”
“You should ask Diego if he wants a hug right now.”
My nephew came to stand by us. “Cody can give me a hug.”
I set Cody down, and the two boys hugged and talked about Cody’s Batman doll. Diego promised to bring his Iron Man action figure next time so they could play together. My heart just about broke into a million pieces, knowing what lay ahead for Cody’s future.
Zach came back in time to say goodbye to Isabella and the kids. He looked haggard and weary. His eyes were red-rimmed and there were dark circles under his eyes. Once the apartment door closed behind our guests, he picked up Cody and headed into the living room.
“Uncle Zach, when is Mommy coming to get me?”
Zach took in a shuddering breath. He sat on the couch with Cody in his lap. “That’s something we have to talk about.”
I sat next to Zach and put my hand on his thigh just to let him know I was there.
“I have to tell you something very sad,” Zach began. He blew out a short breath. “Last night, Mommy got hurt really badly.”
Cody frowned in concern. “Did she go to the doctor?”
Zach swallowed hard. “She went to the hospital,” he said hoarsely. “The doctors tried really hard to make her better, but she was too badly hurt.” A tear tracked down his cheek. “Mommy died.”
Tears filled Cody’s eyes. “But she can’t die. She has to make my birthday cake.”
“I know, baby,” Zach said with a near sob.
Tears fell in great drops from the little boy’s bright-blue eyes. “But who’s going to take care of me? Daddy isn’t here. Where will I live?”
It was then I completely understood Zach’s homicidal urges last night. I wanted to find this Scott person and push him into a volcano.
Zach held Cody close. “Your mommy asked me to take care of you if something happened to her. So, you’re going to live here with me and Miguel.”
“But what about my toys and my blankets and my Lightning McQueen bed?”
I answered for Zach since he looked like he was about to lose it. “We’re going to pick up all your stuff today, so you’ll have it here.”
“When is Mommy coming back?” he asked tearfully.
“She’s not coming back, baby boy,” Zach told him. “She was hurt so badly her body stopped working.”
Cody shook his head stubbornly. “But I want her to come back.”
Zach kissed Cody’s damp cheek. “Me too, little man. I want her back too.”
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
ZACH
My head was so full I could barely think. There were at least a dozen things I had to do, but I could only focus on Cody. We had to make sure he understood that he was safe and loved and had a home to go to. He asked about preschool, his friends, and his favorite stuffed animal. Miguel and I both reassured him each time.
Miguel was the one who talked to the hospital and found a funeral home to pick up Allie’s body. He arranged an appointment for us to meet with the funeral home director the next day. He held me as I wept with each new stab of reality.
Marissa called us mid-morning, and we all agreed to meet at Allie’s place around noon. The hospital had given me all of Allie’s belongings, so I had her apartment keys and the keys to her car. Her phone had been shattered when Scott hit her with his car, so I didn’t have access to her contacts. I would have to get it from her carrier somehow. God, I had no idea what I was doing.
