Vanessa and Billy’s connection had been deepening for a long time now but since her mom had passed, Vanessa was beginning to see Billy. Really see him. ‘How are you holding up?’ he asked. She knew that he was worried about her, about the boys who had lost someone so close to them, someone that they spent time with just about every day. Wren and Ty came into the room, a faraway look in Wren’s eyes. He was going to miss his nannie just as much as Vanessa was. She wanted to hold them, both of them, take their hands, comfort them and tell them that everything was going to be OK. But she couldn’t move. She was stuck in one place, staring in the direction of her children. When Vanessa didn’t get up to comfort her children, Billy did, wrapping his arms around Wren first, kissing him on the forehead then doing the same to Ty. He threw Vanessa a look, but she was helpless to go to them.

There was a knock at the door, and she jumped up so fast that she felt dizzy. ‘Steady on there, Vanessa,’ her dad cautioned. She smoothed her hair down and went to answer. She took a deep, steadying breath before opening the door.

Her mom had lived in the town her whole life, so many people had attended her funeral and were soon crowding into the house and backyard, eating food and sharing stories. Vanessa looked at the trestle tables laden down with food and wondered if she had organized enough to go around. Her mom would never forgive her if people went hungry. Never have forgiven her. She stifled back a sob, then felt a hand on her arm.

‘Ness, have you eaten yet?’ asked Billy. She shook her head slowly and he fixed her a plate of two sandwiches and a small cup of lemonade. He guided her toward an empty chair, then watched over her as she nibbled on the corner of a sandwich.

In the corner of the room, she noticed Ty sitting alone. His eyes were red-rimmed and he was clutching a tissue tightly in his little hand. She handed Billy her plate and drink, gave him a small kiss on the cheek, then walked over to her youngest son. She squatted down in front of him and gripped the hand that wasn’t holding the tissue.

‘You alright, my darling?’

He shook his head. He was too young to know the pain of death and he had loved his nannie, being with her nearly every day since Vanessa had gone back to work.