"Mommy!" he exclaimed, his voice bubbling with excitement. Annie couldn't help but smile as she bent down to scoop him up into her arms. The weight of him, his giggles, and his bright blue eyes were an anchor in the midst of the storm raging inside her.
"Hey, sweetheart," she murmured, kissing the top of his head. "Did you have fun today?"
Ryan's face lit up even more, if that was possible, as he launched into a rapid-fire recount of his day. "It was so fun, Mommy! There were rides and candy and, oh, oh! Aunt Emily found a new boyfriend!"