Page 15 of The Path To Us

Addy, though, isn’t so quick to agree. “What about Zoey?”

With Addy’s mom gone and her dad never in the picture, she and Zoey’s only family is ours and she doesn’t leave her with babysitters often, if ever, from what I understand. Mainly because if she needed a night away, she would do so on the nights Christopher had Zoey.

“Max’s girl is here and said she would hang out with her.”

Max has been with his girlfriend, Amelia, for a few years now and she has been really good with Zoey.

“Max doesn’t want her with him?”

Mom fiddles with the edge of the yellow and white striped tablecloth. “He knows you need to be there and Amelia would be happy to spend a few hours with Zoey.”

Dad, Max, and Amelia walk into the kitchen and Dad swiftly lifts Zoey up, hugging her tightly. “Papa, you squishin’ me!”

“Can’t help it, Zo-Zo. I need my fix.”

“Papa,” she says, giggling again and squirming to get away.

Max snatches her up next and after he’s finished with her, Amelia takes her hand.

“You want to do my makeup?” Amelia asks Zoey. Her reply is to squeal and take off running to the bathroom. Zoey loves playing with makeup and dress up and Amelia is always happy to be her real life Barbie.

The rest of the adults settle in around the table as Mom and Dad give me a rundown of what they know from the doctors as well as the funeral home. The entire time, Addy keeps her hand in mine.

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