Chapter 6 - The Storm Outside and Within
Dawn broke not with sunlight, but with a dim, grey illumination that barely penetrated the thick sheets of falling snow. The wind had dropped slightly, but the temperature had plummeted even further.
Jasper was in the kitchen, a room he rarely used except to fetch bottled water or coffee, trying to figure out how to make pancakes from scratch. He had found a bag of flour, some eggs, and a jar of maple syrup buried in the back of the pantry.
A quiet tread on the hardwood floor made him turn around.
Maya stood in the doorway, wrapped in the oversized cashmere throw, dragging her feet uncertainly. She looked rested, though her face was still pale.
“Good morning,” Jasper said, trying on a smile that felt rusty on his face. “How’s Noah?”
“He’s awake,” Maya said softly. “He’s making his squeaky sounds. That means he’s happy.”
Jasper set down his whisk. “Come here. Let’s get him something to eat.”
Together, they prepared another warm meal for the baby. Jasper watched in silent admiration as Maya skillfully handled her little brother, feeding him with the patience and tenderness of a mother three times her age. She was a child forced to grow up far too fast, burdened with adult worries before she had even learned basic math.
“You’re very good with him,” Jasper remarked, handing her a warm dish towel to wipe Noah’s chin.
“Mama had to work night shifts at the diner,” Maya explained, holding the baby against her shoulder and gently burping him. “She taught me how to take care of him so we wouldn't have to pay a sitter. She said we were a team.”
“Your mama sounds like a very smart woman,” Jasper said quietly.
Maya looked up at him, her dark eyes searching his face. “Is she going to die, mister?”
The bluntness of the question struck Jasper like a physical blow. He leaned against the marble counter, choosing his words carefully.
“She’s very sick, Maya,” Jasper answered honestly. “But I talked to some very smart doctors early this morning. They are taking her to a big, warm hospital with the best medicines in the world. They are going to do everything they can to help her get well.”
Maya swallowed hard, her small chin trembling. “Do you have enough money to pay them?”
“I have more money than anyone needs,” Jasper said gently. “And right now, I’m using it to make sure your mother comes back to you.”
A single tear spilled over Maya’s eyelashes, but this time it wasn’t from fear. She stepped forward and pressed her small head against Jasper’s knee, holding onto him with her free arm. Jasper froze for a moment, completely unaccustomed to human affection, before slowly resting a large, protective hand on her head.
May you like
The moment was shattered by the sharp, jarring sound of a loudspeaker echoing from the bottom of the driveway.
“Jasper Blackwood! This is Sheriff Vance! Step out of the house with the children! We have a court order for emergency custody!”
