Quinn, age twelve
“Hi,” I greeted as I walked around the side of the pool toward the three of them.
Jett stood and came over to me, grabbing my hand. “We thought you would want to be alone.”
“Why? You never let me be alone any other time.”
“Mom said you’d want to sleep,” Gray told me as he watched me.
“I close my eyes, and all I see is her in the coffin.”
“Want to playCall of Duty?” Ash asked as he came to stand beside Jett and me.
“Okay,” I agreed and followed the three Santo boys into the house, away from my home, where the people were crowding our front room and eating small plates of finger food as they watched me with sad faces.
“Quinn, sweetheart, why are you here?” Sable Santo rushed over to me and wrapped her arms around me.
“Dad’s got people to look after. No one will be looking for me,” I assured her. I met Gray’s eyes, and he nodded once in understanding as he walked over to his mom and took my arm.
“She’s with us, Mom, she’s fine,” he told his mom as he pulled me away.
“But . . .” Sable looked at all of us as she watched the boys form a semi-circle around me. “Okay, I’ll tell your dad. I was going back over anyway.”
We went to the den, and we played video games, and we never spoke about the fact that I buried my mom today.
They were my best friends.
* * *
Quinn, age fifteen
As I walked around the pool in the dark, I could see the darker shadow as he lay out on the lounge chair. Gray ignored me as I approached and remained silent as I lay down on the lounge chair beside his.
“Thought you were on a date?” he asked me softly.
“I was.” I stared up at the star-filled sky. “He asked her to marry him.”
Gray grunted but said nothing.
“It’s only been three years since Mom died.”
“You think it’s too soon?” he asked.
“Don’t you?”
“Dunno.” I heard him move slightly, and then he was on hisside, facing me. “It will always be too soon for you; she was your mom.”
Shifting, I faced him. “He said he loved my mom more than life itself.”
“Why do you think that’s changed?”
“Because he’smarryingsomeone else.”
“So? You think he should be alone? And unhappy?”
“I’m not saying that!” I argued back.
“What are you saying?”
