Chapter 73:
Kael left at eight in the morning.
He kissed me on the porch. He kissed Lily on the forehead. He kissed my stomach.
"I'll be back," he said.
"You better be."
"I will."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
He got on his bike.
The gate opened.
He was gone.
---
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Marisol was on the couch with her arm in the sling. Reese was in the kitchen with Hope. Margaret was on the porch. Sierra was in the living room with a book.
I was in Lily's room.
She was playing with her blocks. She was building another house. This one had a door and a window and a chimney.
" Mama," she said.
"Yeah, baby."
"Is Papa K coming back?"
"He's coming back."
"When?"
"Soon."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She looked at me.
"You keep saying that."
"I know."
"You keep saying that a
