Leah
Linda texted at 7:04 Friday morning.
He’s asking for you. Come before everyone else gets here if you can.
I read it twice while Bella stood at the kitchen counter in mismatched socks, adding orange stripes to the cat drawing she had made for Edward.
The cat had six stripes, one giant tail, and a face that looked like it knew where all the snacks were hidden.
“Mommy,” Bella said, her tongue tucked into the corner of her mouth, “is Grandpa Edward awake enough to see my cat?”
“I think so.”
“Good.” She added one more stripe. “This one is happy.”
“It looks happy.”
“It is. Orange is brave.”
“Very brave.”
“And don’t let anyone bend the tail.” Bella looked up, suddenly serious. “The tail is the best part.”
“I’ll protect the tail.”
“Good.” She capped the marker, then frowned at th
