CHAPTER 8.

I HAD TO TELL DAMON and Jannie about their “Auntie Scootch,” which is what the kids havealways called her. My kids sensed something bad had happened. They knew it, just as theysomehow know my most secret and vulnerable places. They had refused to go to sleep until Icame and talked to them.

“Where's Auntie Scootch at? What happened to her?” Damon demanded as soon as I entered thekids' bedroom. He had heard enough to understand that Naomi was in some kind of terribletrouble.

I have a need always to tell the kids the truth, if it's possible. I'm committed to truth-telling between us. But every once in a while, it is so hard to do.

“We haven't heard from Aunt Naomi in a few days,” I began. “That's why everybody is worriedtonight, and why they came over to our house,” I said.

I went on. “Daddy's on the case now. I'm going to do my best to find Aunt Naomi in the nextcouple of days. You know that your daddy usually solves problems. Am I right?”

Damon nodded to the truth in that, and seemed reassured by what I had told them, but mostly bymy serious tone. He came into my arms and gave me a kiss, which he hasn't been doing as muchlately. Jannie gave me the softest kiss, too. I held them both in my arms. My sweet babies.

“Daddy's on the case now,” Jannie whispered. That warmed my spirits some. As Billie Holidayput it, “God bless the child who's got his own.”By eleven the kids were sleeping peacefully, and the house was beginning to clear. My elderlyaunts had already gone home to their quirky old-lady nests, and Sampson was getting ready toleave.