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“Night, guys,” she called over her shoulder, as they started at the stairs

“Night,” three voices chimed back

Lou followed Brody up the stairs, shining the flashlight in his path “Don’t drop my baby,” she requested

“If you’ll keep that light on the stairs, I won’t,” he grunted

Lou perfected her aihed his thanks

She opened the door to her bedrooh the bathroo nursery The rooirl’s drea for baby stuff” The room was now full of pink frills, princesses, and lace It was beautiful even though it was shrouded in shadows Ballet tutus had been sewn by Sadie and served as valances on the s A bookshelf donned one ith its lower shelves full of books and the upper shelves filled with fragile trinkets Sarah loved

Lou pulled back the covers and sheets and Brody gently laid Sarah down She never hed loudly as he moved away Lou pulled just the sheets up to her chin because it was a warht and kissed her on the forehead She placed an extra flashlight on the nightstand by the bed She left it on just in case Sarah woke and was confused

They walked back into Lou’s room and Brody picked up his plate and bottle of water Lou said, “Thanks for bringing her up She’s heavier than she looks”

“Tell me about it,” Brody pretended to flex his back

“You stop,” Lou teased as she touched his arm

Brody gestured to her plate that still lay on the desk “Come out on the porch and eat with me?”

“Sure…why not?” She followed hih the door and onto the porch They sat, side by side, in the rocking chairs Lou dove into her sandith relish Brody laughed at her antics and did the same

“Where did you learn to be such a good mother?” he asked out of the blue, his mouth full of sandwich

“I didn’t knoas one,” Lou replied, shrugging her shoulders “I just do the best I can It’s hard for her, so a dad But, h family to make up for it I didn’t know squat when she and I first came here Sadie had to teach me a lot”

“You learned from the best, then”