Chapter 1

Deanna looked at Daddy. He was standing in front of that big hole in the ground that the box was in and talking to all the sad people.

"...was a beautiful, amazing wife and mother, and she will never be forgotten. I love you so much, Mary."

He stared into the hole for a minute, and all the sad people put their heads down.

Dee took this time to look at baby Sammy. He was sleeping in his baby carrier, eyelids fluttering slightly. Deanna was wondering when Mommy would be back. She could stop Sammy's crying sometimes, but other times she didn't know what he wanted and she was at the neighbor's house and Daddy wasn't there and no one knew what to do.

Dee sighed and sat down in the grass next to her brother. Her white dress would probably get dirty, but it was okay. When Mommy came back, she would know how to get all the dirt off. The young girl but her elbows on her criss-crossed legs. Sammy was starting to wake up, cooing and gurgling. Daddy threw a handful of dirt into the big hole, and then he walked over to Deanna.

"Hey Dee," he said. "It's time for you to come throw the dirt we talked about earlier."

She smiled and stood up, waving to Sammy as she walked up to the hole, holding Daddy's hand. Everyone made an 'aw' sound, and Dee wrinkled her nose. All of the people were staring at her when she grabbed some dirt from the pile and threw it down onto the box. All the people clapped and Daddy walked her back to Sammy and then went to go talk more.

Dee looked around at all the trees in the park. It was a weird park, 'cause there wasn't a jungle gym, just rocks and benches and sad people. She didn't like it. She wiped her dirty hands on her dress and then looked at her little brother again. He was fully awake now, so she wiggled a finger in front of his face. He smiled and grabbed on.

"Love you, Sammy."

They kept playing until Daddy walked over and scooped Dee up and grabbed Sammy and brought them back to the car. He didn't say anything when he strapped them in, and he didn't turn on any music when he started driving.

"Hey Daddy, do you think when we get home Mommy will be back?"

The man sighed. He pulled the car over onto the shoulder, got out, and opened the door next to his daughter.

"Dee...Mommy isn't coming back. Ever."

"Wh-what?"

"Remember the fire? The fire hurt-that fire killed your mom. She's dead. She can't come back."

Deanna's lip quivered. "Wh-why not?"

"'Cause when someone dies, they're gone forever."

The girl started to sob. "I want Mommy back!"

"I know, sweetie, me too. But we can't have her back. Which is why you gotta take very good care of your little brother, okay? You gotta protect him. Sammy comes before everything else, got it?"

Deanna nodded through her sobs.

"That's my good girl."

John closed her door, got back in his seat and drove back towards the motel, his daughter sniffling quietly behind him.

She glanced at Sam beside her. "Gotta protect my little brother. I'm gonna take real good care of you, Sammy, you'll see."