‘Where is he? Where’s Wren?’ Ty’s little voice went up an octave as he asked the question, he looked around frantically as if maybe Wren was just misplaced. ‘Is he OK?’ He gripped onto Billy’s hand tighter. Vanessa watched as Ty’s small fingers flexed around Billy’s large ones, turning white, the tears already building in his little eyes as if he knew what was coming. Maybe he did. Vanessa thought back to the whispered words to Wren when he found out that Olivia was dead. Sometimes Vanessa thought Ty really could see the future.

‘He’s not coming back, is he?’ He began to cry, tiny little sobs that escaped lips that tried to hold them back. ‘He’s dead, isn’t he?’ This time, he sobbed louder, and Billy moved around the table, picked him up and put him on his lap, wrapping his huge arms around him.

‘Yeah, buddy. I’m so sorry.’ Tears rolled down Billy’s face as he stared up at his expressionless wife, frowning. Maggie reached over and gripped Ty’s hand, Billy put his hand over the top of hers, the three of them crying.

She couldn’t handle it, Ty’s face, their faces; she was numb. A veil had been thrown over her emotions, but she knew it wouldn’t last, although maybe it was a better state to be in rather than abject pain and heartbreak. She walked from the room, no one stopping her, and went to the safety of her bedroom.

She could hear Ty. She covered her ears, but it didn’t block out his gut-wrenching sobs. Vanessa heard the knock on the front door. So it had begun.

She heard her dad’s voice. Quiet, yet still overpowering, filling the small space of her kitchen and leaking its way down the hallway to reach her ears. He knocked on her door.

‘Ness? It’s Dad, honey. I’m coming in.’ Not a question, a statement. Would people always make decisions for her from now on?

‘Hi Dad,’ she said quietly in the still room.

‘Ness.’ He sat on the edge of her bed and picked up her hand, patting it gently. ‘I’m so sorry. You… I… I have no words, honey. Your mom would have known what to say. All I can do is tell you that I love you.’ Vanessa watched as he shed his tears. Vanessa felt herself welling up. Her dad hadn’t cried since her mom had died, and it hurt her. He stood up. ‘I’ll leave you be, I just wanted to come by and, I don’t know, see you.’ He gave her a kiss on the forehead and closed the door gently on his way out.