Page 66 of Shattering

Then, before she could stop herself, a quiet chuckle escaped her lips.

Gray lookedridiculous.

With the odd angle he was twisted into, his large frame crammed into the too-small bed, he looked a bit like a Saint Bernard trying to imitate a mouse. His mouth was slightly open.

Cadi shook her head, sighing.

She reached for the doorknob and gently pulled the door shut, letting them sleep.

With this small reprieve, she decided to head downstairs, make a strong cup of coffee, and start breakfast. It was something to do, something to keep her hands busy.

And maybe, just maybe, by the time Gray woke up, she'd have figured out what to say to him.

Chapter 32

It was closer to lunch when Cadi heard the softthump, thump, thumpof tiny feet descending the stairs, accompanied by the whispery drag of a blanket trailing behind.

Tomos appeared, his hair sticking up in wild tufts, his eyes still half-closed with sleep. The dining area, with its sturdy oak six-seater table and the plush fabric sofa in the corner, was bathed in icy winter light streaming through the large windows.

Cadi smiled. "Good morning, puppy."

Tomos let out a vague, sleepy grunt—his way of acknowledging her without actually making the effort to speak. Without opening his eyes, he shuffled toward the sofa and plopped down, cocooning himself in his blanket.

Only the top of his head was visible from where she stood. The winter sunshine bounced off his blond curls like fairy dust.

Cadi let him be. Some mornings, he needed time before he was ready to function.

A few minutes later, though, he resurfaced, dragging his blanket with him as he clambered onto one of the chairs at the kitchen island.

Without speaking, Cadi placed a warm glass of banana milk in front of him.

Tomos blinked blearily at it, then wrapped his small hands around the glass and took a long sip, gulping down half in one go. When he lowered it, a thick milk moustache coated his upper lip.

Cadi bit back a smile.

Tomos smacked his lips and blinked at her sleepily. "Da is sleeping in my room."

Cadi nodded. "Yes."

Tomos frowned slightly. "When did I come back?"

"Uncle Cal brought you back."

Tomos nodded, absorbing the information, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. Then, as if processing the thought again, he murmured, "Dad is sleeping in my bed..."

Cadi arched an eyebrow. "Like Goldilocks?"

Tomos grunted, wrinkling his little nose. "More like Papa Bear. He smells sweaty."

Cadi chuckled. "He just missed you very much."

Tomos blinked at her, still not quite understanding. "Why did he miss me? I was right here."

Cadi hesitated. "He was confused and sad."

Tomos frowned deeper, his lips pressing into a tiny pout. "Why?"

"Sometimes grown-ups make things complicated."

---