With the tiramisu in the refrigerator, Dante out at work, and Leo in bed, I clean up the house because Maria is still not well. Walking up the stairs, I start to relax and think about having a bath before I stop short when I hear Leo whimpering.

Racing down the hall to his room, I fling myself inside and find him crying in bed.

“Leo?” I say as I walk slowly to him. “Are you okay, buddy?” I stop at the side of his bed and kneel down to be closer to him. Reaching out, I wipe a stray tear away, and he pulls the blanket up to his chin.

“It’s okay, I’m here. Can I get you anything?” I ask him, before he suddenly flings the blankets back and jumps out of bed and into my arms, gripping onto me for dear life. My heart breaks as he whimpers in my arms, and I cuddle him, rubbing his back to help calm him down. As I sit up onto the mattress, I realize that both his pajamas and the sheets are wet, and it dawns on me that he has wet the bed. Something that is not a usual activity for a boy Leo’s age, but after his frightened state today, it’s not surprising.

“It’s okay. Come on. I will take you to the shower and change your bed while you clean up.” He nods into my shoulder.

Standing, I carry him across his room and into the bathroom, where I turn on the shower and get him a fresh towel.

“Okay, you get in and have a quick wash. I will be out changing your bed and then I can stay with you, if you like?” I say to him, trying to be upbeat, and he nods while wiping his eyes.

With a last squeeze of his hand, I close the bathroom door behind me and get busy changing his sheets. I hear the shower turn off just as I am putting the comforter on, and I’m fluffing the pillow as he comes out with damp hair and fresh pajamas.

“Feeling better?” I ask, and he nods before crawling back into bed. I pull up the blankets around his chin. As I am about to walk away, he grabs my hand, then motions for me to lie on top of his blankets beside him.

“Okay buddy. I will stay a while,” I say to him, hopefully answering what he is asking of me, and I jump onto his bed to lie beside him, all the while his grip on my hand remains.