“Thank you for all you’re doing. You and Trace…” Her voice caught on another sob. “What would I do without you guys?”

Sam hugged her again. “You’ll never have to find out.”

“I hope not.”

“Go take a nice hot shower. You’ll feel better after.”

“No, I won’t, but at least I won’t stink.”

Sam laughed as relief flooded through her. If Angela could make a joke, there was hope she might emerge from this nightmare somewhat intact.

After she left Angela to shower, Sam took a second to text Freddie, giving him the green light to make the GoFundMe live. Then she knocked on Celia’s door and stepped into chaos. Ella was crying, and Jack was yelling to be heard over Ella’s loud wails. Poor Celia looked more stressed than Sam had seen her in a while.

Sam took Jack by the hand and led him into Celia’s tiny kitchen. “What’s the matter?”

“Ella won’t stop crying, and Celia promised I could watch The Lion King.” Jack’s little chin quivered with the outrage of it all. He was the spitting image of his father, with dark hair and green eyes. “And I want Mommy. Where is she?”

“She was resting, but now she’s in the shower and going to join us for dinner. Are you hungry?”

Jack shrugged. “I guess.”

Sam hugged him. “I’m sorry you’ve had a rough day.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Sam breathed in the sweet scent of shampoo and little boy. He’d held a special place in her heart from the day he was born, and she ached for his terrible loss. The tight bond between Jack and Spencer had been obvious to everyone who knew them. “I know this is so hard, buddy, and I’d give anything to fix it for you.”

“I know.”

“Do you want to come with me and see what Scotty and the twins are doing?”

“Sure.”

“We can watch The Lion King after dinner.”

“Okay.”

“Go wash your hands so you’re ready to eat.”

While he took off to do that, Sam went to relieve Celia with Ella. “What’s this all about, young lady?”

“I think she might be teething.” Celia shook her arms as if to get the blood flowing again. “She’s been upset all day.”

“Poor baby.” Sam rubbed the baby’s back as she pressed her cheek to her forehead. Her soft blonde curls brushed against Sam’s chin. “I can’t tell if she’s feverish or worked up.”

“Maybe a little of both.”

“Perhaps some time with Mama will help what ails you, sweet girl.”

“I gave her some Tylenol a few minutes ago. I think she might’ve swallowed some of it.”

Ella rested her head on Sam’s shoulder as sobs hiccupped through her tiny body.

She ached for Ella, for Jack, for Angela and everyone who’d loved Spencer. Nothing in her life had prepared her to guide her sister, niece and nephew through such a dreadful loss. Still holding Ella, Sam took Jack by the hand when he returned from the bathroom.