Chapter 23

“I can’t imagine it’s easy for a parent to bury a child,” I said gently.

Tru frowned. “She didn’t deal with any of it well. She still hasn’t. I think if I moved out, it would….break her.”

My heart ached at the thought, and after I slid the bread into the toaster, I crossed the floor to take him in my arms. Tru hugged me back, and kissed my neck.

“If she needs you, then it’s good you’re there.”

I held him until the toast popped up, and Tru squeezed me once before letting me go to deal with it. I pulled out two plates as he took the mugs to the little table. I followed him with the toast and butter, returned to the fridge for the jam, then joined him. Tru immediately pressed his knee to mine under the table.

“I don’t know,” he said when we each had butter and jammed toast in front of us. “I think she needs to talk to someone, or go to a support group, or something. But she refuses to talk about it, and flat out ignores me when I try to help her.”