“Mom.”
She smiled sleepily.
“You’re home.”
I hugged her tightly.
“What is going on?”
She glanced at Kyle.
“Dad was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“When you got home.”
I stood.
“I am home.”
Kyle led Gladys back toward the bedroom.
Mia quietly folded her blanket.
“I’ll make some tea,” she whispered.
“You should be in bed.”
She gave me a small, tired smile.
“I’ve been sleeping down here since Grandma arrived.”
Every protective instinct inside me came alive.
