Chapter 32

I could hear the rest of the family in the other room, laughing at something they were watching on TV. I shook my head as I dried a pan.

“They’re about as subtle as a hammer on a nail, aren’t they?” I offered.

Walt only shrugged and finished his tasks. As he wiped the table, Casey came into the kitchen. He dropped the rag and picked her up, placing her on his hip.

“You ready for bed, sweetie?”

She nodded and yawned before resting her head on his shoulder. The love between them was clear.

He looked at me. “Are you okay here? I need to give Casey her bath and read a bedtime story.”

“You go on ahead. And, ah, if you’re not going to bed right away, would you mind coming back here? I’ll be working on some recipes for a while.” No time like the present to get this over with.

He seemed surprised by my request, but his face was hard to read otherwise. “Sure, okay.”

Soon after he left, everyone stopped by to wish me good night.

Mom gave me a tight hug. “Do right by him, hear me?”