CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE
(part six)

“I want to hear all about it. Every detail. But I…”

“You want to talk to the kids.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I understand. Here’s Noelle.”

”Daddy?” Noelle asked.

As Sandy left the room to get Nash, she heard Noelle talk about her project and how far behind she was. When she returned with a sleepy Nash, the little girl was weeping on the phone.

“I miss you so much, Daddy,” Noelle said. “Sandy and me didn’t sleep one wink because we were so lonely.”

Sandy put her arm around Noelle. The little girl leaned into Sandy while she listened to something Aden said.

“Nash is here,” Noelle said. “Love you too Daddy.”

She gave the phone to her brother and pressed herself into Sandy. Sandy held onto the heartbroken little girl. They listened to Nash’s excited and proud talk about working.

“We met this guy named Jorge,” Nash said. “He showed us how to use a shovel and how to write our names in our gloves so no one steals them. He helped us get lunch from the roach coach. Did you know they call them that? So funny. But there aren’t real roaches there. And you know what, Dad?”

They could almost hear Aden say ‘what?’

“It’s not horrible. Work, you know,” Nash said. “But I’m going to college. No way I’m spending my life with a shovel in my hand. Sam says we’re working for him until he and Sandy figure out what to do about school. And that’s all right. After I get back in school, I think I’d like to work a little bit.”

Sandy watched Nash listen to his father. For a moment, the image of the man he would become appeared like a shadow in the boy’s face.

“Ok, bye Dad. Love you too.” Nash gave the phone to Sandy.

“I only have thirty seconds.” Aden spoke in a rush. “There’s nothing I can say that would express how much I love you, how sorry I am, how grateful I am, and how much I miss you. I can’t believe you already transferred money and the kids seem so happy. And…”

The phone went dead. Sandy looked at the phone then set it down. Using her hands, she herded the children to her. They held onto each other for comfort against awful hole Aden’s voice had left in the now silent apartment. After a moment, Noelle stepped back.

“Let’s put some music on,” Noelle said. “Miley?”

“Slayer,” Nash said. “Let’s make cookies.”

Sandy smiled at the kids.

“Cookies and Miley.”

“Ah, man…” Nash said.

“She called it first,” Sandy said. “We’ll listen to Slayer next. Then Bare Naked Ladies to dance too.”

“Let’s dance!” Noelle said.

For a moment, they stood together as each person was lost in their own sad thoughts. Sandy touched Noelle and she ran to put the music on. Nash followed Sandy into the kitchen to make cookies.

At first, they moved like ice skaters, in practiced ways that created predictable responses. No one wanted to scratch the surface of their sorrow. Within minutes, they were dancing their way through the cookie recipe. Sandy and Nash cheered to Noelle’s impressive solo on a wooden spoon microphone. Nash tried to teach “the girls” some of his break dancing moves.

By the time the first batch of cookies was out of the oven, they were in the rhythm of life without Aden again. Noelle settled down to her project and Nash napped on the couch. Sandy sat back down at her computer to work on the business plan for her new salon.

The three survivors were becoming a family.

Denver Cereal continues on Monday…