The sound hit me right in the chest.
Because I had missed it.
Even though I had heard her laugh yesterday.
Even though she had smiled at me.
I had missed the sound of her being happy without fear behind it.
The Magnolia Ladies took over the kitchen. Nobody asked permission.
Nobody dared.
Within ten minutes, coffee was brewing.
Muffins were on the counter.
The glass had all been cleaned up. The window would be replaced soon.
Mrs. Jenkins was telling Sadie’s Dad exactly where to sit.
And Wolf was somehow holding a casserole dish like it was a grenade.
Trigger looked delighted.
I stayed near Sadie.
Not because she asked me to.
Because I couldn’t seem to be more than a few feet away.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
“You can breathe, you know,” she said softly.
I looked at her.
“I am breathing.”
“Barely.”
Fair.
Probably fair.
She stepped closer.
Set her coffee down.
Then slipped both arms around my waist.
The simple touch nearly undid me.
I held her.
Buried my face in her hair.
