Chapter 38

Justin ate his Stew and listened to Del and the kids talking. Harper was full of opinions, and even Wyatt interjected once or twice. Scarlett contributed with a few shrieks and yells and sounds that weren’t quite words yet, but would be someday soon. The book Del had bought said that she should have been using words by now, and Justin thought that it would happen for her very soon now that people were talking to her. He wondered if, with Mom, she’d just been left in her crib and ignored.

Justin was still eating when Harper and Wyatt carried their dishes back into the kitchen, and Del went with them to load the dishwater.

Scarlett showed him a gummy smile from her high chair.

Could Justin give the kids this without Del? He didn’t want to do it on his own, but couldhe? He didn’t know. He didn’t think so. It was hard to think of his house and imagine it as warm and welcoming as this one. Some nights he didn’t ever want to leave Del’s house, and he knew the kids felt the same.