Page 32 of Life After

“He’s in heaven now,” Elsie said, sighing. “Auntie Suzanne was really sad when he went to heaven.”

Jen regarded Elsie with an understanding smile. “It’s very sad when people go to heaven.”

“Do you know anyone there?”

Jen frowned ever so slightly. “In heaven?”

“Yeah.” Elsie nodded and then fisted a hand under her chin. She had a lot of similar mannerisms as Suzanne. “And did it make you sad, too?”

“I do know people in heaven, and yes, it made me very sad when they went there.” Jen wasn’t sure she wanted to have this conversation with Elsie, but she appreciated that Elsie felt comfortable talking about this kind of thing with her. “Why do you ask?”

“Auntie Suzanne isn’t sad anymore.” Elsie beckoned Jen closer as though she was about to reveal a secret. She lowered her voice as she said, “She used to read to me at night and then wait for me to go to sleep. When she thought I was sleeping, I used to hear her crying.”

Oh, that broke Jen’s heart.

“But I gave her a cuddle, and it made her feel better.”

“I’ll bet it did.” Jen squeezed Elsie’s shoulder gently. “And I bet you made her feel bettera lotof the time.” Jen leaned in and whispered, “Don’t tell her I told you this, but you’re her favourite, you know?”

Elsie frowned. “Her favourite what?”

“Her favourite person in the world.” Jen shrugged. “Best friends.”

“Auntie Suzanne says you’re her special friend.”

Jen froze at that. She knew exactly what a ‘special friend’ was, and right now, she didn’t want to put her foot in it. It wasn’t Jen’s place to out them to Suzanne’s niece. “We’re very good friends.”Okay, end this here. Get on with breakfast. “Your porridge is almost ready. Anything you want added to it?”

“Please may I have jam?”

Jen smiled at Elsie’s wonderful manners. “You may.”

“I saw Auntie Suzanne kiss you last night.”

As Jen turned to Elsie, her cheeks likely bright red with embarrassment, she cleared her throat. “You did?” What the hell else was she supposed to say to that? She couldn’t exactly call the kid a liar, nor would she ever do that.

“Mmhmm.” Elsie nodded. “Hattie has two mums.”

Fucking hell. Where was Suzanne? Jen was beginning to wish she hadn’t brought this idea up yesterday while Elsie was doing her homework. She was just being lumbered with questions she didn’t know the answers to.

“And Joshua has two dads.”

“That’s pretty cool,” Jen said, relaxing a little when she heard Suzanne coming down the stairs. “Don’t you think?”

“So, do I have two aunties?” It appeared Elsie was trying to work out Jen and Suzanne’s relationship in her head. “That would be way cool.”

Jen looked at Suzanne as she walked into the kitchen, mouthing ‘help’ as she poured Suzanne a coffee. “Morning. I’m just taking care of breakfast.”

“Mm. The smell woke me up. Now I’m starving.” Suzanne inconspicuously lay a hand on Jen’s hip and squeezed. “Everything okay?”

“Yep. Elsie was just telling me that Hattie has two mums and Joshua has two dads.” She gave Suzanne a knowing look, eyeing Elsie as she turned them both away and guided Suzanne out of earshot. “She saw us kissing last night. I think she’s a bit confused about what it means for us.”

Suzanne sipped her coffee, her brows drawn. “Confused?”

“She’s just asked me if she has two aunties because of the situation with the kids at her school.”

“O-oh! Right!”

“Auntie Suzanne?”

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