“Yeah,” he replied gently.
“Loads.”
“Yeah.”
She was silent a long moment then, “Love heals.”
She needed to believe that. Luckily, she was right. He knew this because she taught him that too.
“Yeah, baby,” he whispered.
She fell silent.
Chace let her, eyes on his plain.
Then he heard her soft sob and it was his turn to have his play.
He got out of his chair and lifted her out of hers. She instantly curled into him, her chest in his, her face in his neck, her arms around his shoulders. He pulled open the storm door, kicked the front door shut and walked her to his bed. He laid her in it and joined her there, gathering her close as her body rocked gently and the tears flowed.
When she quieted in his arms, he tipped his head so his lips were at her hair and he asked, “You cryin’ ‘cause of all of it or somethin’ in particular?”
“All of it, I think.”
“You’ll miss him,” Chace noted gently.
She nodded and her breath hitched.
He gave her a squeeze.
She took in a shaky breath and whispered, “I’m glad they’re nice people.”
“Me too.”
“Did you see the pictures?” she asked and he gave her another squeeze because he did. Both sets of grandparents brought pictures.
Miah and Becky, their Mom and Dad. Happy family. Half of that gone.
“Yeah,” he answered.
She pressed closer, burrowing in. The loss was too much to bear in the dark before dawn.
Chace gave it time.
Then he asked, “You get me?”
Her head tipped back and she caught his eyes. “Get you?”
Quietly, Chace explained, “For whatever reasons, life took away their parents and led them to a nightmare. Then God was done and He sent an angel to put a stop to it. That angel bein’ you, a woman capable of performing a lot of miracles. Now, when I call you an angel, do you get me?”
Tears filled her eyes again, she dipped her chin, shoved her face in his throat and her body bucked with her sob.
She got him.
* * * * *
One week and two days later
Chace stood and watched Sondra give Becky a hug while Silas stood close to Miah, grinning at him, probably teasing him but the despondency could still be seen around his eyes. Faye was standing beside Chace, smiling at her parents and the kids but her sadness was a great deal more pronounced.