Page 10 of The Manny

“But…” She looked at Mrs. Jones, her bottom lip quivering.

Thomas said gently, “Mia, do you understand why you’re here?”

She nodded. “I’m ‘posed to live here now.” She slid her gaze to me. “With Uncle Jack.”

I gave a weak smile as our eyes met. I had no clue how to comfort her. I was a stranger to her.

Thomas nodded. “That’s right. You’re going to live here with Uncle Jack and me. I’m staying here too.”

“You are?” She swallowed.

“Yep. I’m a live-in manny. That means I’m almost always here. Isn’t that great? We can play and do all kinds of fun things together.”

“I didn’t know you lived here too,” Mia mumbled.

“I sure do. I have my own room and everything.”

“Isn’t that wonderful, Mia?” Mrs. Jones said. “You’ll have someone to play with any time you want now.”

Mia wrinkled her brow. “But I want to go home.”

“This is your home now,” Thomas said quietly. “Your Uncle Jack and I are going to take care of you and keep you safe.”

A big tear rolled down her pale cheek. “But… what if Mommy comes back? She won’t be able to find me.”

I could almost feel my heart cracking in two. My eyes stung as I watched her little confused face. She said she understood what was happening, but it was obvious she had no clue. All she knew was her mother was gone, and a bunch of strangers were telling her everything was fine. Everything wasnotfine.

“I loved your mommy too, Mia,” I blurted.

My throat was so tight, I could barely get the words out. But I wanted Mia to know that, whether Jules and I had been close in recent years or not, she’d been my sister and I’d loved her. Mia and I shared a bond no one else shared. We were the only two in the room who’d known Jules. We were the only two in the room who felt deep pain at the loss of Jules. Maybe I had no idea how to be a good uncle, but I understood Mia’s grief. I needed her to know that.

Mia looked at me and her eyes flickered. “I… I miss mommy.”

“I know,” I whispered. “But she can’t be with you anymore. I’m going to do my best to take care of you, Mia.”

“And I’ll help him,” Thomas said gently, straightening.

“But… I just want my mommy.” She started to cry.

Mrs. Jones looked on the verge of tears too, and she went to Mia and hugged her. “Honey, it’s going to be okay. I know you’re sad, but it’s going to be okay.”

Mia clung to the older woman, her little shoulders shaking as she sobbed. I met Mrs. Jones’ gaze over the child’s head, feeling overwhelmed. I wasn’t equipped to handle Mia’s anguish. I barely knew how to handle my own.

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Jones said, kissing the little girl’s cheek. She gave me a desperate look. “I’m going to miss my plane if I don’t leave right now. I… I don’t know what to do.”

Gritting my teeth, I got up and moved around to Mia. Without giving myself time to think, I lifted Mia into my arms. The child stiffened and struggled, her sobs filling the room. “It’s okay to cry. You don’t have to hold it in,” I mumbled, stroking her back. “Cry as loud as you want. I feel like crying too.”

For whatever reason, my words seemed to have a calming effect on her. She cried for a few more moments, but then went limp in my arms, whimpering softly. “I don’t want her to be gone.”

“I know.” I nodded. “Me neither.”

“Why can’t she come back?”

I sighed. “She died. People who die don’t come back.”

“But why?”

“I… I don’t know.”

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