"I'm sure he's just off, driving around somewhere," Maggie said as she sat with Anna in the cabin. "He's probably on his way home right now." Anna folded her arms around her waist, shaking her head. "Well... then I'll stay here. I'll stay until he gets back."
Anna checked her watch. "I just hope to God that he doesn't do something that he's going to regret." she said as a rap was heard at the door.
Maggie curbed her words, remembering that they were talking about David... and he was capable of anything. Maggie made her way to the front door as Anna took a seat on the sofa. She swung the door inward and stepped back.
"Tad." Maggie said.
"I didn't come to start trouble," Tad said. "I didn't see David's car in the front so..." Maggie moved aside , allowing Tad to enter. He walked into the cabin slightly, unbuttoning his suit jacket and putting his hands in his pockets. "So..." he continued. "I thought I would stop in and... see if you needed anything." Anna silently shook her head as Tad pursed his lips. "It hurts," Tad said, removing his hand from his pocket and running his fingers back through his hair. "I know, Anna.... I know it hurts."
A tear rolled down Anna's cheek. "I just want it to stop." Tad sat beside her, putting his arm around her shoulder.
"It's alright."
"How do you do it, Tad? How do you just pick up and move on with...when you have such a huge piece of your life just... ripped away from you."
"It's hard, Anna," Tad said. "It is hard. And I'm not going to lie to you, the pain never completely goes away. It gets easier to deal with... in time. But it never really goes away. Especially with a child."
"She didn't deserve this," Anna said. "She was so small... and... she had pulled through so much. We thought the worst was over, that it would all get better. that she would grow up... and be... such a happy little girl. We had such little time with her."
"You need to hold that close to your heart, Anna. You need to remember and cherish every moment you had with Leora. Those three months were a life time... Leora's lifetime and every second of it was remarkable." Tad paused. "that little girl face more in three months than most people experience their whole lives. But still... she was one of the happiest babies I've ever seen. She had spirit and personality and... she had that because you were such a wonderful parent to her. you lover her so much, you would have given your life to... to keep her here. You feel like... like you just want to crawl into a hole. to hell with the world and nothing else matters. I know that because I felt the same way when I lost Dixie and Kate. In time, Anna. In time you'll learn to move forward. But right now, I think, what you need is David. David needs you. You need eachother to get through this."
"How am I supposed to be there for him when I can't even find him." Anna said through her tears. "He doesn't want to be found."
"In his own time." Tad said. "David needs to come to grips with this on his own first. And until then... even after then, I'm only a phone call away if you need me. Anytime. You just call." Anna nodded quickly. "Do you want me to stay... until David gets back?"
"Thank you, Tad, but..." Anna started. "I think I'll be alright. I have Maggie here."
"OK." Tad stood, leaning down and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Anytime, OK?"
Anna smiled as Tad headed for the door. "Tad," she called after him. He turned. "Thank you."