Tessa stood in a small bedroom. “My bed was there. I had purple curtains.”
Owen went into the kitchen, put his hand on the counter, and said, “Dad burned pancakes here every Saturday.”
After a while, Owen came back to me. “Why are we here?” he asked.
I crouched down. “Because your mom and dad took care of you. They put this house and some money in your names. It all belongs to you four. For your future.”
“They didn’t want us split up?” Owen asked.
“Even though they’re gone?” Tessa added.
“Yeah,” I said. “Even though. They planned for you. And they wrote that they wanted you together. Always together.”
“Not ever?” Owen pressed.
“Not ever. That part was very clear.”
“Do we have to move here now?” he asked. “I like our house. With you.”
I shook my head. “No. We don’t have to do anything right now. This house isn’t going anywhere. When you’re older, we’ll decide what to do with it. Together.”
Ruby climbed into my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Can we still get ice cream?” Cole asked.
I laughed. “Yeah, bud. We can definitely still get ice cream.”
