page98 (1/2)

I turn to Corinne and decide to puence After I take another sip of tea, I ask carefully, “Why is your Aunt Trista packing?”

Corinne takes a sip with her little pinky out, and I immediately snap mine out to mimic her When she lowers her cup, she says, “She sold her house, and we’resoon”

I s hard, as I did not intend for Trista to move so quickly when I made the offer on her house and it was accepted “Where are youto?”

“An apart eyes filled with exciteet to stay in my same school where my friends are”

My heart rate decelerates as I realize she’s not going far Not leaving Vegas

“That sounds nice,” I tell her “I bet Trista’s excited”

Corinne shrugs and her eyes turn sad before they drop down to her cup “I guess”

Reaching over with et her attention “Hey… what’s wrong?”

When she looks back up at ht sheen of tears in her eyes, and I want to slay whatever monster put them there “It’s my fault she has to sell the house”

“No, sweetheart, it’s not,” I hastily reassure her, but she’s already denying orously

“It is,” she insists “I heard her talking to Grandery, so she had to sell her house Now she’s sad she has to leave, and it’s all my fault”

A single heart-wrenching tear slides down her cheek, and I’m at a loss as what to do I love kids Alanted them, but I’m woefully unprepared and ill equipped to handle a bereft six-year-old with guilt issues

“Hey, Corinne,” I say in a soothing tone as I reach a hand out and wipe her tear away I’, but I’ to take one for the team “Trista isn’t sad about this house, I proot nothing to do with you”

I didn’t realize a six-year-old could cock their eyebrow so effectively, but that’s exactly what Corinne does I can also tell she’s intrigued “She’s sad because of you?”

I nod quickly “I was an idiot and did sos I didn’t mean to do it and I’m really sorry, but that’s why I’m here now To tell her how sorry I aain”