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"And you'll play with me?" Noble asked with suspicion and doubt. "Yes. I will. I promise," I said.

He looked at Daddy and smiled.

We can all go in the house now," Daddy said. "Lead the way. Celeste."

I held his hand and he held Noble's hand. Behind us, our family members clapped and cried out in joy. I opened the door and Daddy and Noble went in ahead of me.

When I turned. I looked toward the forest where I saw Elliot, his head down, making a quick retreat into the darkness from which he had come and to which he would return forever. Then I went in, and with Daddy and Noble beside me. I undressed the children, got them into their pajamas, and put them both to bed. I fixed Mama as well to make her more comfortable.

Daddy sat beside the bed and held her hand. and Noble sat with me on the bed. We talked softly late into the night until my eyes wouldn't stay open.

"Go on to sleep," Daddy said. "I'll stay with her."

"Me, too." Noble said.

"Okay," I told them. I kissed Mama's cheek and then went to bed. I fell asleep in my clothes.

I slept late into the morning. Panther was up but he was occupied with some of his toys and apparently didn't cry out and scream as he usually did every morning. It was Baby Celeste who woke me with a scream.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up. She was standing in the doorway staring at me.

And she was crying.

"What's wrong, Celeste? Why are you crying?" I quickly got up to go to her. She backed away from me as though she was frightened of me.

"What's wrong. honey?" I asked, smiling at her.

"I want Noble."

I tilted my head. "Noble?"

"I want Mama."

"Mama. Yes. Let's go look in on Mama." I reached for her hand, but she pulled away and ran to her room, slamming the door closed on me.

"Celeste, what is it?" I cried after her.

That child is a handful, I thought. She always will be.

I went to Mama's bedroom and looked in on her. She was exactly as I had left her, only when I drew closer, I saw she was pale, her lips blue. I rushed to her side and felt her face. It was cold. H

er fingers were stiff.

Mama's gone. I thought. Mama's gone. They took her last night. Daddy and Noble took her with them.

I didn't cry. Mama wanted to go, otherwise she wouldn't have gone. I thought. She'll be back anyway. They'll all be back. In the meantime, I had a lot to do. It would be the last time I would work so hard in the garden.

It all kept me so busy. I forgot about the children. By the time I looked in on them. Panther had fallen back asleep, probably exhausted from crying. Baby Celeste was curled up with her thumb in her mouth. She looked absolutely terrified. I practically dragged her out and down the stairs to get something in her stomach.

You can be silly and childish afterward," I told her. "For now you have to eat something,"

I prepared food for Panther as well and went back upstairs to him after I looked after Baby Celeste. He was awake again and hungry. I had no trouble getting him to eat everything. I changed him, dressed him, and brought him downstairs.

Baby Celeste still refused to speak to me, but she at least went into the living room to occupy herself with her books and toys.

"I've got a lot of housecleaning to do," I told the both of them. "I want the two of you to behave yourselves while I work. If you're good. Ill give you both some ice cream later."

Baby Celeste looked up at me skeptically. Panther jumped up and down in his playpen, energized and remarkably happy, I thought.