❀ Amy ❀
The party ended the way all good things should. Slowly, sweetly, with the kind of satisfied exhaustion that meant it had been a day well spent. The kids, sun-kissed and waterlogged, had eventually collapsed on the couch in the living room as they watched movies. The adults had enjoyed the sunset as we polished off a bottle of wine and a case of beer. And then, just like that, it was quiet. My backyard, which had been filled with chaos and laughter, was now still in the night. I was thankful that the ladies had helped me clean up, and no one left empty-handed. I even had a few lunch boxes with Clark’s name on them in the fridge.
“Mommy,” Eva whined, and I glanced over at my tired daughter.
“Come on, kiddo, bath time,” I said as I got to my feet. Eva groaned, and I could tell she
