You'll Be Gone by Ava Strong

Author:Ava Strong [Strong, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-21T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Megan helped Solveig plate the simple meal her sister had cooked, bringing it over to the table where Emma eagerly awaited dinner.

“Remember to chew, hun,” Megan chided Emma, as she sat down in front of her own plate of spaghetti. She shared a weak smile with Solveig as Emma continued unabated, scarfing down forkful after forkful.

“Thanks so much for handling everything. And making three portions,” Megan said, picking up her own utensils. “I was starving by the time I came home.”

“We were too, which is why I got on it,” Solveig shrugged.

They ate a few bites in silence. Emma took a momentary break, but only to gulp down half her glass of milk.

“So, how’d things go?” Solveig asked, after they’d all finally had a chance to get some food in their stomachs. “I mean, the fact that I haven’t heard the good news already means… probably no slam dunk yet, obviously…?”

“Well, yeah. I don’t know. Cooper doesn’t look like our guy. Still shady though and no alibi, so I kept him in the holding cell. We can talk to him together in the morning. And Mariani’s trying to patrol closer to nearby lakes tonight, just in case that catches anything.”

Solveig nodded sagely before taking another bite.

“...But, you know – let’s try and talk about something a little happier,” Megan continued, jutting her chin meaningfully toward Emma. Solveig seemed to realize what she meant, frowning apologetically.

“Sure thing. For starters, I had a great time with Emma this evening. She flew through her homework. Then I was her audience for clarinet practice. And then she showed me how she’s been trying to learn to draw. She’s really talented.”

Emma looked up from the end of the table, beaming at Solveig.

“After that, she showed me her favorite games on her Switch. I tried to play, but I think you kinda have to grow up with that sort of thing to really get it.”

“You were good at Mario Kart!” Emma protested.

“Yeah, I could do that one. That one’s just driving, sort of,” Solveig said with a laugh.

Megan had stopped eating as she looked between Emma and her sister.

She suddenly almost wanted to cry – only barely managing to stop herself. She put down her fork and turned away for a moment, in a way that she hoped was subtle, staring instead at the fire Solveig had lit in the hearth before she’d arrived.

Her work was so important, and she wouldn’t have wanted any other job. But the outside world was so cruel, and gross, and cold sometimes.

At a time when there didn’t seem to be much that was really going her way… that little moment of warmth she could tell Solveig had shared with Emma that evening practically hit her like a truck. She was so grateful to have a family like the one she did, even if it had its rough spots sometimes.

“I’m glad you got a fire going,” Megan finally remarked. “We don’t have too big a spot, here, but the fire really makes it cozy.

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