My kids still didn't really understand what it meant for Pearl to be gone. Their dad had gone away, and in their minds, death and jail were the same things. I realized in this they believed their dad would come home someday, or maybe they just thought he'd taken a trip. They didn't understand they'd never see him again, but truthfully, I didn't think they remembered him anyhow. As I tried to explain it to them and Derrick, I was met with confused eyes, unready to accept the meaning of never. So I quit trying, and we just dealt with the fact Miss Pearl wasn't going to be around.
Jase had taken us all to his house and had sent someone to Pearl's to get Derrick's things. I wasn't sure what his plan was. I hadn't bothered to ask, but it appeared, for the time being, Jase was assuming responsi
