They are, indeed, no strangers to nightmares; Joyce herself has had them often since the day she discovered Will had vanished. She checks on her children every single night before bed, despite Will’s objecting that he’s getting too old to be tucked in. She needs to see for herself that everyone is safely where they belong; she doesn’t expect that impulse will ever leave her. Tonight especially will be no exception. Not when there’s a motherless child here who hasn’t been tucked in for twelve years.
Sure enough, when Will sees her enter his room, he groans in embarrassment. “Mom,” he hisses, “come on, not in front of Eddie!”
Joyce just smiles. “Don’t worry, honey, Eddie’s getting the same treatment.” She bends down to kiss Will’s forehead, just as she does every night. “Sweet dreams,” she says fondly. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” he grumbles, his face bright red. She crosses the room to Eddie, who reaches up for a hug after she’s kissed his forehead. “Sweet dreams,” she repeats, smoothing his hair back from his face. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Mama J.”
She can’t keep them all safe; she knows that. But, for tonight at least, sheltered in her home, everyone is okay. Tonight everyone is as safe as she can make them.
