Page 71 of Our Lips Are Sealed
Selah locked Abe’s chair. “Wrap your arms around Sammy’s neck, and I’ll lift you from the bottom,” he instructed. “We go on the count of three.”
Simone opened her mouth to tell them she would transfer Abe, but stopped when she saw how well the boys handled it on their own. The barbed wire around her lungs loosened just a bit as she watched, giving her a chance to breathe once again.
Josie’s hand rubbed her back reassuringly. “We’re going to be alright.”
The children cheered while Abe scooted around the kitchen, learning how to work the curved wheels.
“Calm down, now,” Ty hollered over the noise. “If we’re going, let’s get to it.”
“Okay,” Abe squealed, dancing in his seat. “Let’s go.”
All eyes were on Ty and Selah as they maneuvered Abe through the back kitchen door.
All eyes, except for Samuel’s.
He was watching Evie.
Sauntering over to her, Samuel leaned across the counter directly in her line of sight.
Jamison giggled at her brother’s attempt to gain Evie’s attention, and Samuel shot her a wink. “Is she not eating today?”
“Nope.” Jamison clanged her spoon against her cereal bowl. “No eating.”
“That’s a shame because it sure looks good.”
“Leave her alone,” Toby said. “She doesn’t like it when you tease her.”
Samuel made a face at Toby and snatched a grape from Evie’s plate to pop into his mouth. He chewed loudly as the girl’s crystal gray eyes rolled upward to glare at him.
“Jerk.”
Unbothered by Evie’s insult, Samuel snatched another grape. “Brat.”
Evie slapped his hand when he went in for a third and crammed some of the food in her mouth.
Satisfied, Samuel smiled as if he’d won a game only he and Evie were allowed to play. “Come outside when you’re done, Evangeline. You need some fresh air.”
And with that, he ran through the back door to chase after the others, the door cracking close behind him.
Simone went to the screen, watching the boys traverse the lawn with Ty until they disappeared into the woods.
Miranda came up from behind, resting her chin on Simone’s shoulder. “These kids are so lucky to have you. I hope you know that.”
“Sometimes, I think it’s the other way around.”
Miranda started to speak, but something caught in her throat, and she turned her head to cough. These coughing fits of hers were happening more and more lately, and Simone didn’t know what all that was about, but whatever it was would have to wait. She could only handle one broken soul at a time, and currently her cup runneth over.
“What did the school say when you spoke to them yesterday?” Miranda asked when she could speak again.
“They were understanding and unenrolled them until next year,” Simone replied, eyeballing her friend. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t not worry about Miranda. The two women standing next to her were her only friends left in the world. With Laura Jean gone…
No.
Simone gave herself an internal shake. She couldn’t go there yet. Like Devon, that magical creature, who’d been nothing short of a sister, haunted her, too. Sometimes, she would swear she smelled the perfume Laura Jean always wore floating on the evening breeze or find it lingering in spots along the porch at night.
“I’ve got to see about getting them back into the homeschool program, but I lost the paperwork somewhere along the way,” she went on to explain. “It was in the ballroom the last I saw it.”
None of them had dared step into the space since Ty sealed the door once the police were done with it. Simone promised herself she would one day turn it into something new, but that day wouldn’t come for a long time.
