Overton bowed his head and closed his eyes. If Sophie didn’t know better, she’d think he was praying. She gave him a moment and then patted him on the back. “Thank you, Sergeant. Private Finley was a respectful and capable Marine, one we will certainly miss. I did not know him well, but from what I saw he served his country admirably.” She paused and looked over at the smaller box that held Saafi’s remnants.

“Today we also remember Saafi Yool. He was one of the finest gentlemen I’d ever met. Saafi was a fighter. After he escaped his war-torn homeland of Somalia and made his way to the United States, he obtained an advanced degree in engineering, quickly rising to the top of his field. His life was truly remarkable, and ended too soon.”

She stepped aside and slid back into the group. A small hand gripped hers, and she looked down to see Owen’s wide eyes staring up at her.

“Are they going where my mommy and daddy are?” he asked.

“Yes, honey, they are.”

Holly glanced over at her, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Then she bent down in front of the children and said, “Jamie, Owen, I’m going to tell you something now that may be hard, but you’re both brave kids and will understand. Okay?”

The two children looked up at her, their eyes wide and full of innocence.

Holly knew that no matter what she said, the kids would likely not understand what had happened to their parents, Saafi, or Finley. But she was from the school of thought that the best explanation for a child experiencing loss was a simple one.

“Sometimes we have to deal with losing those we love and care about. Now is one of those times,” she said. “Your parents, your families, and Mr. Yool and Mr. Finley—they’re in a good place now. It’s a safe place, a happy place. They can’t be with you right now, but you always have your memories.” Sophie looked over at her and offered a short reassuring nod, but Holly quickly saw a sad little frown dawn across Owen’s face.

“They’re in heaven with my grandma and grandpa and Sam,” he said, as if repeating something he’d been told before.

Jamie looked down at the ground and began to whimper. “I wanna see my mom and dad.”

Holly crouched to the girl’s level and put two fingers under her chin, tilting her face up so she could look at her.

“Your parents would want you to be here now, Jamie. They’d want you to live your life.”

Jamie pulled away. “But I want to be with them now!” she cried.

Holly pulled Jamie to her, letting the little girl cry into her side.

Overton lit a match and placed it under the makeshift caskets. The boxes burst into flames, the scent of gasoline filling the room.