Page 153 of Lose You Twice

“I know.”

Daisy lifts both arms toward me.

The decision is apparently made.

I carry her upstairs while Wren follows with Lily. Daisy rests her head against my shoulder, completely boneless with sleep.

I lower Daisy onto her mattress while Wren gets Lily settled.

Daisy catches the sleeve of my sweatshirt before I can step back.

“Movie night next Sunday?”

I glance at Wren.

She’s standing beside Lily’s bed, one hand on the blanket, watching me.

“We’ll see,” she says softly.

Daisy tightens her fingers around my sleeve. “That normally means no.”

“I’ll try,” I tell her.

She thinks about that, then releases me. “Okay.”

With everyone in their rooms for the night, we head back downstairs. Wren starts collecting the popcorn bowls and wrappers before heading to the kitchen.

“Why don’t you let me clean this up, and you can go shower?” I say, starting to fold the blankets in the living room.

She arches a brow. “Are you saying I stink?”

I chuckle. “No, I’m saying you’re exhausted, and I think a nice, relaxing shower could help you feel a bit better.”

That earns me the smallest hint of a smile.

“Fine,” she says. “I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

She heads upstairs.

Once I finish picking up the living room, I start on the dishes.

The sink is already half-full, so I rinse everything and load the dishwasher. I wipe the coffee table, then clean the kitchen counters.

Once I start, it’s difficult to stop.

Not because I need the room to look a certain way. The mess still catches at me, but it doesn’t feel threatening now. Each thing I move has a person attached to it. Daisy’s cup. Lily’s medicine spoon. Justin’s plate. Wren’s abandoned sweatshirt hanging over the back of a chair.

Tomorrow morning’s responsibilities are scattered all over the kitchen. I can at least make a part of it easier.

The lunch boxes are in the same cabinet as last time. Bread is in the pantry. Turkey, cheese, carrots, yogurt, apples.

Daisy’s crusts come off. Lily’s stay on, because she only copies Daisy when someone is watching. No mustard for Justin. Extra food for Holden.

I search two drawers before finding a pen that works, then label each lunch with a sticky note and stack them in the fridge.

The cereal bowls go beside the spoons. Oatmeal on the counter. Juice boxes in the refrigerator where the kids can reach them.

I look at the clock and realize it’s been close to thirty minutes since Wren went upstairs. I don’t hear the water running from her shower, so I head up the stairs to see what’s happening.