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when I find Grace sitting at the table with a plate of cookies and milk. She looks up at me as I enter, quickly abandons her cookies, and launches herself at me. I hold her tight and take in her sweet smell. I missed her so much it literally hurts me to think of how lonely she has been. After holding her for a few minutes, I set her down on the floor.
    “Let me get a look at you. Wow, I didn’t think it was possible for you to get even prettier but you did.” She giggles and puts her hand on my face. “You haven’t been eating much have you, little mouse?” She looks down at the floor. “Well, that’s all going to change right now. You are going to eat a big dinner for me aren’t you?” She smiles. “I heard you started school while I was gone. Did you like it?” She looks down again and starts to fidget.
    “When I was your age I would get nervous going to school too. Once I opened up a little I made some really great friends and it got much easier. I was thinking maybe I could go to school with you tomorrow and we could make some friends together. How does that sound?”
    She smiles again.
    “Now go eat those cookies while I talk to your brother and then we can see what kind of trouble we can get into before dinner.” She runs off to finish her snack and I can see Dex standing on the other side of the wall watching the whole scene.
    “You might as well come out now so we can get this over with.”
    He smiles sheepishly and walks over to me with such a soft and sweet smile, it is almost my undoing.
    “You are so good with her, Roz, and she loves you so much. If I was less selfish I would let you raise her, but I can’t; I need her too much.” He looks so sad and defeated.
    “You stop that nonsense right now. She needs you too, and nobody is raising her but you. I would love to be there to help if you’ll let me, though.”
    “I thought about what you said, and you were right. Her living here will be the best for her, so if the offer is still open we would like to take you up on it.”
    “Of course it’s still open. You can have a bottom floor guest room. There are two down here, but I’m guessing she’d prefer to stay in the same room as you for now. We can bring in a smaller bed for her.”
    “Thank you, Roz, this means so much to me.”
    Part of me wants to erase all the doubt and hurt I can see in those beautiful eyes. However some people can’t be saved; they have to save themselves. I can’t try to take his hurt away; he needs to heal first. “I really need to lie down for a little bit, Dex. I’m so exhausted.”
    When I am halfway up the steps he calls my name, and I stop.
    “Yes?”
    “You went to Grace’s school?”
    I bob my head.
    “You talked to Miss Baxter?”
    Another bob.
    “You fired her?”
    “I wouldn’t call it fired exactly, but starting tomorrow there will be a new teacher.” I brace myself for his inevitable anger, for him to tell me to butt out, that Grace isn’t my concern. Oddly enough, it doesn’t come. Instead a slow smile breaks out on his face and he chuckles.
    “Sleep well, Roz,” he says, and walks away.
    Well…I was not expecting that. I hurry up the stairs and fall into a deep sleep. I wake up around 2:30 a.m. It is pitch black outside and I’m nice and warm under my covers, but I really have to use the bathroom and I am starving since I slept through dinner. I contemplate how long I can stay here before my bladder explodes, and decide not to find out. I get out of bed. It is freezing and I quickly go to the bathroom, get my robe, and make my way downstairs as quietly as I can to see if I can find any leftovers from dinner.
    I am about done eating when I hear a child’s cry pierce the night. It scares the life out of me and I take off running toward the guest room. Dex is shushing and trying to soothe Grace, and her whimpers break my heart. I lightly tap on the door and stick my head in.
    “Everything okay?”
    “I’m so sorry, Roz, I didn’t