Who could judge her for anything?
Morgan kept her gaze anchored on Olive, who had gone unnaturally still in her booster seat, eyes wide and fixed on Morgan.
Morgan swallowed. “Hi, Olive,” she tried again, softer. “I’ve missed you, angel girl.”
Olive’s mouth opened slightly, like she might speak—then her jaw closed again. She looked at Tessa, and in that look was something so sharp it nearly cut Tessa in half.
Are you letting her take me?
Tessa forced herself into motion.
“Okay,” she said, brighter than she felt. “I’m going to go get her things. I already started packing, but I need to grab her favorites.”
With an approving nod from Dusty, she crossed into the kitchen and easily lifted Olive from her booster seat with hands that were steadier than her heart. Olive didn’t resist. She just let her body go limp in Tessa’s arms.
“Come on, Olive Oyl,” Tessa murmured, pressing her lips to silky blond curls. “Let’s go get your treasures while Dusty and Mommy talk.”
As Olive dropped her chin on Tessa’s shoulder and they passed him, she whispered, “Dusting.”
Tessa didn’t dare look at Dusty to see how that hit. Instead, she walked Olive back to the bedroom in a warm and solid grip.There, she lowered her to the floor, but Olive’s small fingers tightened in Tessa’s shirt. “Stay, Tess.”
The words were like a two-by-four to the heart.
She turned so Olive didn’t see her tears, looking at the sunlight spilled across the pink comforter and three rows of stuffed animals. Olive’s suitcase was open on the bed, half-filled with neatly folded clothes and pajamas and tiny socks rolled into perfect little donuts.
Tessa sat on the edge of the bed and Olive scrambled onto her lap, glassy-eyed as she gazed up.
“It’s okay,” Tessa said softly. “We’re just getting your things.”
Olive’s lips trembled. “Mommy…mad?”
“No,” Tessa said immediately, even though she had no idea what Morgan felt. “You know Mommy loves you. She’s not mad. She’s just been…away, like I told you. But she’s back now.”
“She sad.”
Oh, this child was bright.
“Yes,” Tessa said, smoothing Olive’s wavy locks. “Sad like when your sandcastle falls down. But you build again.”
Olive stared at her, absorbing, trying to understand with a two-year-old brain what grown-ups could barely understand.
“Scared,” Olive whispered.
Who was? Morgan or Olive? At this point, what difference did it make? They were all scared.
Tessa reached for the stuffed bunny with the floppy ear Olive had gotten attached to the past few nights.
“Okay, first things first,” she said, in that cheery, practical tone she used on the rare occasions Olive was upset. “Bun-bun goes in. Very important.”
Olive sniffed, watching as Tessa tucked the bunny carefully into the suitcase.
“Dino Star,” Olive said, voice wavering.
“Yes,” Tessa said quickly. She grabbed the green dinosaur and set it beside the bunny. “Dino Star is absolutely coming. Dino Star is not staying behind.”
Olive let out a tiny, shaky breath that sounded like relief.
“AndGoodnight Moon,” Tessa continued, reaching for the book on the nightstand, their absolute favorite. “This is coming, too. Mommy will read it with you.”
