“I want you guys to have sweet dreams and not worry about anything,” Sam said when she kissed the twins good night. “Okay?”

“Okay,” Aubrey said, popping her thumb in her mouth.

At some point, they’d have to address the thumb-sucking, but not tonight or any time soon. If it gave her comfort, Sam couldn’t see the point of taking that away from her.

“Come get us if you need us during the night,” Nick said. “We love you.”

“Night.” Sam shut the light off but left the door open. She suspected they’d be asleep within minutes.

Nick delivered Jack to his bed and kissed him good night.

“I’ll be just a minute,” Sam said to Nick.

“Night, Jack.”

“Night, Uncle Nick.”

Sam tucked the covers up around the little boy. “How’d today go?”

“Everyone wanted to sit with me at lunch because my aunt is the president’s wife.”

Sam smiled. “I do what I can for the people.”

Jack giggled. “I knew you’d say that.”

“Your mom says you might be worried about something happening to her, too.”

He shrugged. “Kinda. I mean, my dad… He was fine, and then he was just dead.”

“It’s very rare for that to happen, especially to young people like your dad.”

“If it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone.”

“That’s true, but your mom doesn’t want you to worry about that. I know it’s easy for me to say. My dad didn’t die when I was seven, but it’s very rare for someone to die suddenly the way your dad did.”

“It’s hard not to worry about it happening to other people.”

“I know, buddy, but all worrying does is upset you about something that’s probably not going to happen.”

“It’s hard not to worry.”

“You have to try, or you’ll make yourself sick.”

“I feel sick.” He rubbed his belly. “Right here. All the time.”

Her heart broke all over again. “I know, baby. One thing I’ve learned since Gramps died, is that I won’t always feel as bad as I did when it first happened. People talk about how time helps to soothe the wound, and it’s kind of true. It loses the sharp edges that make us feel sick inside, even if we’ll always miss the person we lost.”

“I’ll be glad when I don’t feel this sick anymore.”

“I’m so sorry you’re going through this, Jack Sparrow. I’m sad for everyone, but I’m saddest for you because of how close you guys were.”

“We had a lot of fun.”

“I want you to remember that. When you’re sad or feel sick or lonely for him, think about the things you guys did together and the fun you had. Hold on to those memories during this difficult time.”

“That’s a good idea. Thanks, Uncle Sam.”

Laughing, Sam hugged him tightly. “That was a good one.”

“I know,” he said, smiling. “I was saving it.”

“I wish there was more I could do for you.”

“It helps to be here with you guys and to have other kids to play with. Are we going to live here with you now?”