445 Chapter 445

The little old lady who runs the place was downstairs in the parlor on the phone when we walked in. She called hello, but none of us much felt like being overly friendly, so we sort of half-waved and went right up the stairs. Ashley was sniffling again before she reached her bedroom door.

"His stuff is in there," she said quietly. Cadence didn't pause to listen, just kept walking down the hall to our room.

"I know." I patted her on the arm. "That's okay. It's a good thing."

"But it smells like him." She had large, bouncy tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Good. Go, smell it."

Ashley looked at me like I'd just told her to go sniff paint fumes or something. I pulled up the hem of Brandon's shirt, and I think she realized for the first time it was his. "It helps," I said.

Slowly, she nodded, and fumbled in her pocket for the key. "How are we supposed to do this?" Her voice was a whisper of desperation. "I can't, Cass. I'm not as strong as you two."