Page 83 of The Life We Left Behind

Cade shrugged it off, and I could already see a glimpse of the teenager he was going to become. “That’s okay.”

I doubted it would be if we had to go back, but I’d deal with it then if it came up. I wasn’t inviting problems into my life if I didn’t need them.

“Okay. So, I guess we need to head back home at some point and pick up some more of our things.”

“Oooh, she’s getting ready to make a list,” Blake joked.

“Quick, find a pen!” Cade joined in.

“You’re lucky I love you two, you know. You’re always ganging up on me,” I shouted as Cade darted out of the kitchen, cackling like he always did.

“We need a notepad, stat!” Blake howled as she followed him.

I shook my head at their antics, listening to them running around the house like madmen. This house was made to be filledwith noise and happiness. It had never quite reached that level when I was a kid. I was happy here. I had my dad, and we loved each other. But there had always been something missing. It wasn’t just my mom. It was the life and noise that came from a happy family occupying a space together. It was the noise that came with love and life and the people you couldn’t bear to leave behind.

“I wish you could have been here to see this,” I whispered out into the world, hoping that my father was out there listening. “I think you would have liked to be a part of this.”

The sadness and the grief touched me for a moment before I pushed it away again. I couldn’t let myself feel it yet. I just needed to get through the funeral. To get past all the organizing, all the arrangements, and the well-wishing. And then, when I finally made it through to the silence on the other side, I’d let myself feel. I’d give myself the time to feel all the things I was losing, and then I’d pick myself back up and push through again. Because what choice did I have? Cade needed me. I had responsibilities. I didn’t get to lie in bed for a week feeling sad, no matter how much I wanted to.

“I’ve got pizza,” Trace called from the front door as I heard him struggle to make it through the door with what he was carrying.

“Yay!” Cade cried, running into the kitchen ahead of him. “I’m going to set the table.”

I looked at my son in shock, knowing he was a good kid but not recognizing him in the moment. Who was this helpful child, and what had they done with my son?

“I’m heading out.” Blake stuck her head around the door frame and grinned at the domestic picture in front of her. It was what she had always wanted for me, but I couldn’t help but feel like we were leaving her out.

“Are you sure?” Trace asked, “I got plenty for everyone, person whose name I don’t know.”

“Oh my god, I didn’t introduce you to Blake,” I suddenly realized, my hands coming up to press against what would no doubt be my red cheeks. Blake just laughed at the look of utter horror on my face.

I looked between the two of them, embarrassed at my complete lack of manners. How could I have forgotten to introduce him to Blake?

“This is Blake,” Cade filled in while I still held onto my face in horror. “She’s my cool aunt.”

“Aww,” Blake fawned. “I always knew I liked you for a reason.”

Trace held out his hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you, Blake.”

She stepped into the kitchen and shook it graciously, but I could already see the mischief in her eyes, and I was powerless to stop it. I’d learned long ago that you had to let it flow because trying to contain Blake only ended in an explosion of chaotic embarrassment on my behalf. No man could withstand the fury of the pink-haired woman in front of me.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Trace. Well, now. Like six months ago, I would have skinned you alive and hung you up as a warning in the middle of town. But now that I’ve learned you’re not the devil, I’m willing to let you go with all your dangly bits intact.”

“Me, and my dangly bits, thank you for that,” Trace cracked back.

Blake turned to me with a grin. “I like this one. I approve of him courting you.”

Cade was sitting at the table nodding like this was normal, and I could only shake my head and press my hands into my cheeks even harder. At least it was over now.

“Anyway, gotta run. You can fill me in with blackmail material later,” she told Trace and then ducked her head toward Cade. “We will conspire further tomorrow.”

The grin on Cade’s face had me dreading what I’d already missed, and then Blake quickly turned in a cloud of pink hair and skipped toward the front door.

“I like her,” Trace declared, turning back to the pizza and flipping the boxes open. “She has character.”

“Oh,” Blake said as she opened the front door. “Well, hello there, tall, dark, and uniformed,” she purred next.

“Oh, no.” I was standing at the same time as Trace, and Cade started to lean to the side to try to see who Blake was talking to. “This won’t be the first time she’s talked herself into handcuffs.”

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