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“Of course I will stay with her.” I covered her hand with mine. “I will do anything you need me to do. Just say the word.”
“Thank you. You can take the car seat out of my car.” She kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry to bother you.”
I shook my head. “Don’t be sorry. I’m glad I can be here to help.”
Of all the times I wished I had died in the car accident, I suddenly found myself grateful to be here in this moment. Everything happens for a reason, Chase would say. I wanted to ask how he was doing, but I didn’t. I knew I would see him eventually, but it killed me to drive away knowing he was mourning inside.
I watched as Beverly put her arm around Tanner, whispering into his ear. He shook his head at first, but reluctantly followed his mother back through the hospital doors. I carried Khloe out to the parking lot, and buckled her in her car seat.
When we got back to the house, I carried a sleeping Khloe up to my apartment. I laid her on my bed, and covered her with the blankets. Out in the living room, I paced, clutching my phone. I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to console him, though I knew well enough that there was nothing I could do. So I cleaned.
After an hour had passed, I heard my bedroom door crack open.
“Merry?”
I met Khloe in the hallway. “How did you sleep?”
She hugged my leg. “Your bed is so cozy.”
I smiled and lowered myself to her eye-level. “How are you feeling?”
“Hungry. Do you have any snacks?”
“How about some pancakes? I can whip up a quick batch for you, if you’re interested.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m interested!”
I lifted her up and carried her to the kitchen counter, where I sat her upon. “Would you like to help?”
She nodded feverishly.
We began cracking eggs into the mixing bowl.
“Where do you go when you die?” Khloe’s question broke into my thoughts. I wanted to keep conversation light, but I would not ignore her questions.
“To Heaven.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, I don’t really know for sure. But that’s what everybody says happens.”
“How do they know?”
“I don’t think anybody really knows how it all works. The only people who know are the ones who are already there.”
“I wonder what it’s like.”
“Heaven?”
“When you die.”
I wished I had known what Beverly had already told Khloe about death. It was hard thinking of the right things to say on the spot.
“Okay, now we need to give this a good mixing.” I handed her the whisk. “You can do the honors.”
Her tiny hand wrapped around the handle, as I held the bowl in place. Her furrowed eyebrows told me our conversation was not over.
“Why did your dad die?”
