Page 70 of The Summer We Mended
The screen door creaked, and Max barked once before the familiar sound of boots on grass pulled Lily’s attention to the yard.Tom was walking toward them, his shoulders squared, his expression soft.He paused just short of the porch, his eyes scanning the quiet scene before settling on Max.
“Hey, buddy,” he said gently, whistling for the dog.Max’s ears perked.“You ready to come hang out with me for a bit?”
Max looked to Lily, and she gave him a small nod.The dog trotted down the steps, brushing past Anna’s legs, and moved toward Tom.He nudged Tom’s hand with his head before circling right back to Anna.
“He’s okay,” Lily said, her eyes meeting Tom’s.
Tom nodded.“Are you sure?”Lily nodded.“He’s really good at sensing emotions.He’s pretty helpful with that.”
He glanced at the twins, who were huddled close to Margot near the steps.Their small faces were still etched with confusion and unease, the kind only a child feels when something is wrong but no one can quite explain it.
“Is there anything I can do?”Tom asked.
Lily was all but lost as she held her daughter.The twins didn’t need to see their mother fall apart.It was too much to explain at once and she didn’t know the extent of what happened, just that when a soldier shows up, it’s not good.
Her eyes flitted to the twins, and then to the house.
Tom nodded.“I’ll call Cody and help with the twins,” he offered.
Neither Lily nor Anna replied.
He nodded once again before he crouched down.“Hey, you two,” he said, his voice warm and easy.“I’ve got a very serious situation going on at my place.”
Nora blinked.“What kind of situation?”
“An ice cream emergency,” he said, looking between them with a wink.“I need expert taste testers.Think you’re up for the job?”
Blaze’s eyes lit up, and Nora’s lips twitched in the hint of a smile.
“Can we, Grandma?”Nora asked, looking up at Margot.
Margot gave Lily a questioning glance, and Lily nodded.“Of course.”
“Perfect,” Margot said, herding the kids toward Tom.“Come on, let’s help save the day.”
Tom stood up and gave Lily a look of quiet support before leading the small group across the yard.Max stayed right next to Anna, his giant head in her lap, as the door to Tom’s place opened and shut behind them.
And then it was quiet again.
Lily turned her attention back to Anna, who still hadn’t moved.She reached over, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear.It was like a switch had flipped inside her, some deep maternal instinct roaring back to life as she gathered Anna close.
“Breathe, sweetheart,” Lily said softly, pulling Anna’s head onto her shoulder.“Just breathe with me.”
Anna’s body trembled slightly, but she let herself be held.
They sat there like that for a while.The creak of the porch swing was the only sound around them.
“I keep thinking I’m dreaming,” Anna whispered.“Like if I close my eyes and open them again, he’ll be walking up the path.”
Lily nodded, her hand smoothing down her daughter’s back.“I know.I’ve had that dream before.”
Anna’s voice cracked.“What if—”
Lily stopped her gently, her fingers curling around Anna’s.“Don’t go to the what-ifs.Not yet.They’ll steal every piece of hope you have.”
Anna closed her eyes, tears finally slipping down her cheeks.Lily kissed the top of her head, breathing deeply through her own ache.
“When your father deployed the first time, I couldn’t sleep for weeks,” Lily said softly.“Every creak in the house made my heart stop.But I learned something.”
