“It’s fine if you guys think it’s a good idea.”

“We do.”

“I just don’t care about anything, even my kids. I haven’t seen Ella all day, but I can hear her crying. I can’t make myself do anything about it.”

“She’s safe with Celia, who’s happy to have her for as long as you need to be alone.”

“I don’t know what I need. No, wait. I do. I need my husband, but he’s gone and never coming back.” Her voice caught on a sob. “What am I going to do without him, Sam? I don’t know what to do.”

Sam held out her arms to her sister, who sat up and fell into Sam’s embrace. “You’ll figure it out one step at a time.”

“What if I don’t want to figure it out?”

“You have to do it for your kids, Ang. When the fog of early grief lifts, you’ll still care very much about them and the baby. I know you will.”

“I don’t feel anything but despair.”

“That won’t last forever. Remember how we felt when Dad died, and we wondered how we’d possibly go on without him? Somehow, we found a way, and you will, too.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Don’t want to what?”

“Find a way forward without him.”

“Angela… Come on. Don’t talk like that. What choice do you have?”

“Could you do it? If this happened to Nick, could you pick up and go on as if the worst possible thing hadn’t happened?”

“I don’t know,” Sam said, determined to be honest even if her sister’s words had rattled her. “And I hope I never have to find out. But I’d like to think I’d try for the sake of my kids, who’d be depending on me to show them the way forward.”

“I’m not strong like you are. I never have been.”

“Yes, you are. You’re Skip Holland’s daughter.”

“I’m not the same daughter to him that you were.”

“His strength runs through all of us, and that’ll help you find the light you need to keep going.”

“I just don’t know if I can, Sam. I loved him so much. Even when things were horrible this last year, I still loved him.”

“I know, and what happened is terrible and tragic. But he would want you to carry on for the kids, and he would want you to find joy again and to somehow be happy. He loved you that much.”

“I can’t be happy without him.”

“It won’t be the same kind of happy, but your kids will bring you joy the way they always have.”

Angela shrugged, seeming unconvinced, and who could blame her? “I guess.”

“Will you please come to dinner and at least try to eat something? Jack needs to see you trying, Ang. It’ll scare him if you give up.”

She blew out another deep breath. “Give me a minute to make myself presentable.”

“Take whatever time you need. We’ll wait for you.”