All The Little Moments Read Online Free Page B

Anna took a step back, arms still crossed and eyes glued to a spot over Hayley’s shoulder—anywhere but directly at her.
    Nodding, Hayley stopped. They looked at each other for a second, and then Hayley turned, grabbed her bag and keys, and walked out.
    Anna let out a long breath, falling back on the couch. Pulling her half-drunk wine towards her, she avoided looking around the room. Her brother was dead, her sister-in-law as well. Her girlfriend had left her, and she was moving the next day to a rainy city to take care of her niece and nephew, forever.
    She took a sip.
    There wasn’t enough wine in the house.

CHAPTER THREE
    Anna couldn’t bring herself to open the door.
    Her fingers were numb with cold and her eyelids were heavy as she stood staring at the wood. After flying in late, she had come straight from the airport to her brother’s house to drop off her suitcases. All she wanted to do was sleep, and now she couldn’t even make herself go inside the house.
    Instead, she looked around the front porch. It made her choke up. She’d been here only eight weeks ago, talking with Sally on the steps while they waited for Jake to finish his shower so he could drive Anna to the airport. She and Sally had been laughing hysterically about something, and Anna really wished she could remember what it was. Staring at the step and willing herself to remember, she bit her lip but came up blank. All she could recall was that Jake had come out, shaking his head at the two of them with their wine glasses, and had scooped up Sally, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her inside despite her shrieks of laughing protests.
    Anna shook her head and took a deep breath. If she didn’t do this now, she would never do it. The spare key was hot in her hand after being gripped so long, and she finally unlocked the door and pushed it open. Warm air washed over her and smelt like their home. Almost dizzy, Anna took a second.
    Steeling herself, she dragged one oversized suitcase and then the other up the stairs to the guest room. It was a nice room, one she had slept in many times. The walls were white, decorative touches done with anyone’s taste in mind.
    There was no way she could sleep in her brother’s room.
    She unpacked her suitcases, dreading the arrival of boxes that wouldn’t fit anywhere. It didn’t take long to put her things away, and she ended up standing in the middle of the room, slightly breathless and unsure of what to do next.
    Actually, she knew what she should do next; she just wanted to avoid it.
    Forcing herself, she wandered down the dark hallway and stood outside the master bedroom door. Repeatedly, her hand rose up to push it open, then dropped back down every time to clench at her side. Was it better for the kids to come back to it packed up and empty, or worse? Should she do something in there, or simply leave it alone for now?
    In the end, she turned and left for her parents’ house to sleep the night, unable to be in the oppressive quiet any longer.

    Groggy and disorientated, an unrecognizable sound drilled into Anna’s sleep. Blinding light pierced her eyes when she finally opened them and she slammed them shut again. She flopped over, forcing her eyes open again, and slowly focused on Ella. A book was open in her lap as she turned the pages absently. Without a word, Anna lifted up her bed sheets, and the little girl climbed in. It almost blew Anna away how hard Ella fell against her, fingers digging into her back and cold nose pressed against her neck.
    She had no idea what she was supposed to do, but maybe the kids would help her.
    They spent the day at her parents’, and only at dinner time did they all go back to the house. This time, Anna didn’t let herself hesitate, pushing the door open and entering like it was nothing—despite the clenching in her stomach.
    Her parents stayed; Sandra cooked dinner. Ella simply pushed the food all over her plate and kept looking around the dining room,