She reached down and picked up the stuffed rabbit Mia had slept with since kindergarten.
She hugged it against her chest.
“I can’t sleep without him,” she said with a smile.
My eyes snapped toward him.
“You let Mia sleep in the kitchen?”
Kyle shook his head immediately.
“No.”
“She was asleep on the floor. Explain it.”
“I will.”
Gladys suddenly stood.
“I should check on my son.”
She walked past us before either of us could stop her.
Kyle hurried after her.
I followed.
Gladys stopped in front of the kitchen. She smiled at the sight of Mia sleeping peacefully.
“There she is.”
She carefully tucked the blanket around my daughter without waking her.
Then she whispered, “Thank you for sharing.”
Mia opened her eyes, blinked once, then smiled.
“Hi, Grandma,” Mia said softly, as though she’d already said it a hundred times.
Grandma.
The word echoed inside my head.
Mia pushed herself upright and hugged Gladys.
“Did you have another bad dream?”
Gladys nodded.
“I couldn’t find Kyle.”
“I’m right here, Mom.”
She reached for his hand.
Only after she was calm did Mia look at me.
“Mom.”
She smiled sleepily.
“You’re home.”
I hugged her tightly.
“What is going on?”
She glanced at Kyle.
“Dad was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“When you got home.”
I stood.
“I am home.”
Kyle led Gladys back toward the bedroom.
Mia quietly folded her blanket.
“I’ll make some tea,” she whispered.
“You should be in bed.”
She gave me a small, tired smile.
“I’ve been sleeping down here since Grandma arrived.”
Every protective instinct inside me came alive.
“You’ve been sleeping on this floor for four nights?”
“It was my idea.”
“No 12-year-old chooses the kitchen floor.”
“I did.”
She looked toward the hallway to make sure Gladys couldn’t hear.
“She keeps waking up scared.”
