Page 45 of Before We Break

“Uh huh. When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know, Auggie. Hopefully soon. How’s school? Do you like your new teacher?”

“Miss Clio is the bestest! She knows how to sign, and I made so many friends, and I get to play with sand and dinosaurs and color.”

Jonah chuckles. “That’s great, bud. I’m glad you’re having fun. You be good for Uncle Noah, ok? And you can’t eat chicken nuggets for every meal.”

“Fine,” Auggie whines.

“I love you, buddy. I have to go now.”

“Ok.” Auggie’s bottom lip quivers and he sniffles. “Love you, daddy.”

“To the moon and back. Put your Uncle Noah back on the phone now.”

I take the phone off speaker and hold it up to my ear. “Hey.”

“Thanks, Noah. For taking care of him when I couldn’t. I owe you my life.”

“Family takes care of one another. I’d do anything for that kid.”

The line goes quiet for a few beats. “I know you didn’t ask, and you probably don’t give a shit, but I didn’t do it. I didn’t help her. If I’d known, I never would’ve let her go.”

A robotic voice comes over the line. “This call will disconnect in sixty seconds.”

“I have to go. Can I call again sometime? Maybe once a week to see how Auggie’s doing?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

“Thanks. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

The line goes dead, and everything stills. For a few moments, I don’t move, convinced I imagined the whole thing.

A sharp rap on the door snaps me out of my daze. I pull it open to find Clio standing on the other side, her bright smile no longer an annoyance but a balm, somehow. When did that happen?

“Hey! Ready to go? Lexi’s meeting us there.”

I grab the keys off the hook and take Auggie’s hand, wishing I could muster a fraction of their enthusiasm. A cool breeze dances across my face as we step outside. A crowd is already converging in the town square, drifting between booths and elaborate displays.

Colorful banners hang between the lampposts overhead, with kiosks lining either side of the blocked-off streets. Everything from funnel cakes and cotton candy to ceramic artisans and jewelry designers is set up along the thoroughfare. There’s even face painting, a petting zoo, and plenty of games for the kids. Willow Valley has its strange quirks, but this is one of the more tolerable ones.

We catch up to Lexi near the cotton candy kiosk, a cloud of blue fluff sitting atop a paper cone in her hand.

Clio pinches it between her fingers, stealing a bite. As her lips wrap around them, something tugs in my chest.

“I want some!” Auggie says, making grabby hands at the cotton candy.

Smiling, Lexi lowers it, letting him steal a large piece for himself. He shoves it into his mouth, coating his lips and tongue with blue sugar. His eyes go wide, and he hums around the bite. “Yummy in my tummy!”

Clio laughs. “Where should we go first?”

People have been watching us around the town square all afternoon like we’re animals in a zoo. Everybody whispers as we pass by. Clio doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest, but I can’t stand the attention.

Auggie lets go of Lexi’s hand and darts off toward the row of bouncy houses. “Wait up, little dude.” She takes off after him, catching up in a few short strides.

Clio threads her fingers through mine. She smiles, her eyes closed, tilting her head to the sky, and in that moment I’m positive even the sun must be jealous of her radiance.

“This is incredible,” she says softly.