Her afternoon had been spent moving mountains. Buying a ticket, picking kids up early from school, cancelling afternoon music lessons, arranging rides for the rest of the week—trying to explain to everyone why she was leaving. A whirlwind of purpose driving her forward, keeping her busy, and her mind off the fact that her only sister was not in this world anymore.

It didn’t seem possible.

“Aunt Clare?” Paige had asked, bursting into tears almost immediately. Cameron and Ryan had followed her lead. Holding it together while her children had an opportunity to fall apart…that was the toughest mountain of all.

Next was walking out the door with a suitcase before their father was able to get home. “I’m so sorry,” Eileen told her kids at the door.

Paige, who was only fourteen and had only that morning been fighting with her little brother, gave her a hug. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll be fine.” She stepped back and placed her hands on both Ryan and Cameron’s backs. “I’ll make some mac-n-cheese. We’ll do homework in the dining room.”

Eileen stared for a moment at her daughter, suddenly taller than she remembered, then gave them all a kiss. “Thank you. And I won’t be gone long,” she said, although she had no idea if that was even true. “Sara’s driving you for the rest of the week. You have her cell?”

“I’ve got it. You’re going to miss your flight,” Paige warned her.

“Okay, you’re right.” The tears she’d been fighting all afternoon welled up. “It’s just…” Her voice cracked, and all three of her kids rushed in and held her.

“It’s okay, Mom,” Cameron said.

She took a breath and swallowed the lump in her throat. “Okay, yes, I’m okay.”

“And we’re okay,” Ryan added.

Eileen nodded. “Okay.” She picked up her tote and lifted the handle on her rolling suitcase. “Your father should be home”—she checked her phone for the time—“in three hours.”

“We know… Go,” Paige said and kissed her cheek.

She didn’t want to leave them, but she gave them each a big hug, kissed their foreheads, then turned and walked out the door. “I’ll call you when I get to the airport,” she said over her shoulder as she dragged the case down the porch steps and out to Eric’s car.

He would be stuck with hers for several more days.