We decided to just clear the table and go to bed. We’d both lost our appetites. It was a very big night and it felt like it was time to just be still with all that had happened.

“I’m sure your dinner will be just as good tomorrow night, sweetheart,” I said as I corked the wine.

Maggie was very quiet and slowly putting everything away into the refrigerator. I walked into the kitchen and sat the wine bottle down a little too hard on the countertop. She looked up at me and said, “I want to go see Mama Vermillion tomorrow, Jim. Will you go with me?”

“Of course, honey, let’s just call her in the morning, okay?”

Maggie was still wiping tears from her eyes and, as I went up to her and held her in my arms, I could feel her shaking.

“Baby, are you okay?” I said.

“No, Jim, I’m not okay. This is bringing so much up, I just feel so overwhelmed by it all. How could Mama know Layla’s name and my grandma’s song?”

Maggie buried her face in my shoulder and started to softly cry.