Chapter 27

“Mom’s gone.”

Dax showed concern in an adolescent boy’s way, by patting Barry on the back. Sam touched him on the arm, and he moved in to let her hold him close.

Dax called the two girls from upstairs, “Emily, Chelsea, come down to the kitchen. We need you.”

The two girls came bounding down the stairs in high spirits, but immediately switched gears when they saw Barry’s face. Sam quietly told them what was going on.

Chelsea looked confused. “Grandma Meg died?”

Barry replied, “Yeah, Chels, Grandma Meg is gone. It was just her time to go, you know? We should be happy remembering all the good times we had with her.”

Sam had only met Barry’s mom once but had heard lots of stories about her witty personality and caring spirit. “What can we do to help?” she ventured.

“Nothing, really. I need to go to Virginia for the funeral and all. I guess I’ll be gone for New Year’s Eve…”