“Sean? What’s wrong? Come in.”
She saw right away there was a problem, Sean thought. Knew him better than his mother. “Thanks. Not too late, is it?”
“No. As you see, we’re all still up.” Her five-year-old son, Jamie, sat on the couch in the living room, also in pajamas.
“Hey, little man,” Sean said. “Why aren’t you in bed?”
“Hi, Sean!” Jamie launched himself at Sean, who grabbed him and lifted him up.
“Whoa, easy, tiger! Nearly flattened me.”
“Jamie’s decided sleeping is for little kids tonight,” Heather said with a tired sigh.
“Oh yeah? Bet he’d go to sleep if I read him a story.”
“Yay!” Jamie approved this proposal.
“Gimme ten minutes,” Sean said and carried Jamie through to his bedroom. Ten minutes later Sean came back to find Heather sitting at the table with coffee ready, cut
