Vanessa hadn’t slept properly that night or any night since losing Wren. Things had continued to move along around her. The funeral, the wake; Ty went back to school and Billy went back to work just days later. Life went on for other people, but it had stopped for her. All she really cared about was discovering the secret that Wren was hiding. The secret to why he had been so down in his final weeks. In the dark recesses of her mind, she realized that she should be more concerned with how little Ty was coping with losing his brother. She did care, she just couldn’t express it properly. Her grief was stronger than her concern and she knew that between Billy and Maggie, who had come to stay, leaving Charlotte with Vanessa’s dad, would take care of Ty.

After Billy had gone to work, Vanessa got up and headed down to the kitchen to see Ty before he went to school. Maggie was making breakfast. She was making pancakes, which were Wren’s favorite breakfast food, not Ty’s. Vanessa froze.

Maggie saw the look of shock on Vanessa’s face and realized what she had done. ‘Oh God, Ness! I’m so sorry, I just wanted to do something nice for Ty.’ She covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to cry. Vanessa did the same. Ty looked from one to the other, obviously confused with what was going on.

‘Mommy?’

She looked with great difficulty at the boy who looked so much like the boy she’d lost. She turned to face him. She was silent for a long moment before finally saying, ‘Yes, Ty?’

‘I miss Wren.’ His little face was flushed with emotion.

Vanessa’s heart stilled. She felt like all the breath had left her body and she could barely stay upright.

‘Why don’t we go and get ready for school, Ty?’ suggested Maggie, but Vanessa spoke.

‘I miss him too, Ty. I really do.’

Ty got up from the table and came to his mother.

‘He’s OK, Mom, I know he is.’ Vanessa didn’t even try to stop her tears. They fell from beneath her closed lids even as she drew Ty into her arms. She saw Maggie turn around, giving them privacy, her own eyes welling up.

‘C’mon, Ty. Go get dressed, sweetheart.’ Ty went down the hallway to his bedroom and Vanessa picked up her bag.

‘Are you going somewhere?’ Maggie asked in surprise. Vanessa hadn’t left the house since the funeral.

‘Yeah. I need to do… something.’ She didn’t elaborate, even though she knew Maggie wanted to ask.