Page 53 of Darkness Falls

Callie smiles up at me. "A weird laugh?"

"Yeah, it was a combination of a cackle and a wheeze. Everywhere we went, people would stare at her every time shelaughed, but she never let it bother her. She would just tell me people were staring because they were sad they weren't in on the joke, too."

"She sounds like she was an amazing mom."

"I was just a kid. I didn't know any better, but she did everything she could to make sure I was happy. I got so angry after she died..." I trail off and realize I've never really let that anger go.

"Seb?"

I sigh. "She was taken from me way too soon. I hate that there was nothing I could do about it. It's part of the reason I'm so protective of Barrett and Ky, and I guess now you. I don't want to think about what would happen if more of my family was taken from me."

"That’s why you wanted me to make up with my mom. You know that happiness can be taken from you at any time, and you can't control it."

"Yeah, something like that."

She squirms in the tub and turns to face me. "She would be proud of you if she were around today. The way you protect your family over everything, she would be proud of that."

I let myself absorb her words, and they settle something deep inside me. I really hope she’s right and that my mother would be proud of me if she were still here. I reach out and trail my hand down Callie's cheek before gripping her chin and leaning in to kiss her.

"We shouldget out. The water’s getting a little cold," I whisper, and she nods.

I step out of the tub and hold out my hand for her to help her out before leading her to the shower stall and turning on the water. She looks annoyed, but we need to rinse the oils from the bubble bath off of us.

"Just real quick."

After a minute, I turn the water off and grab towels for us to dry off with. There is a big fluffy pink robe in the corner that I reach out to grab and help her into.

"When did you get this?" she asks. "It's seriously super comfy."

"We had it here for you… um… before. I just didn't have the chance to give it to you."

Sadness fills her eyes, and I wish I hadn't said anything at all. Her sadness quickly morphs into something else entirely, and she reaches out to touch my chest. "You guys bought me a robe?"

"Barrett did. He did most of the shopping for your clothing."

She giggles. "He's the one that bought that damn taco shirt and the smiley face slippers."

"Are you surprised? The guy has a twisted sense of humor sometimes."

"I should have known." She rubs her arms, feeling the comfort of the robe.

"We have two options now. We can either take a quick nap or head downstairs and get started cooking dinner."

She tilts her head with interest. "What are we making?"

"Chicken pot pies. You don't necessarily have to help, but having you around might not be so bad."

"Ooooh, I love your chicken pot pies!"

"I know, Ky told me. So, nap or kitchen?"

"I'll sleep after dinner," she tells me, but it looks like she wants to say something else. I don't like that she's keeping it to herself.

"What's wrong?"

"Um. I uh. Would it be okay if I slept in here with you tonight? You know, give it a try?"

Relief floods through me. She is trying to work out this new common ground between the two of us, just like I am. "You can sleep wherever you want, whenever you want," I reassure her and grab her hand to lead her downstairs.

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