Chapter 19: The New Home
Perhaps because she had been exhausted from the journey, Everly couldn’t remember when she had fallen asleep.
She slept deeply. By the time Everly finally had her fill of sleep and opened her eyes groggily, the sun was already high in the sky.
Mike and Sharon still had their assignment and had left early that morning. After getting up, Old John first tidied up the house, clearing away the layer of dust. When he finished cleaning and returned to the bedroom, he saw Everly sitting on the bed, clutching her crocodile plush toy and craning her neck to peer out the window.
“Good morning, little Everly.”
Old John scooped up his granddaughter and greeted her in a booming voice. Everly answered with a burst of sweet giggles. She melted softly into her grandfather’s arms, cooperatively wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her downstairs and set her into a slightly worn baby chair.
“I found this in the storage room. I really didn’t expect that something Rachel used back then would still be around…” Old John gazed at the little baby nestled in the chair, and for a moment his vision blurred, as though he were seeing his daughter Rachel as a child.
With a sigh of emotion, he rubbed his granddaughter’s head, then took some formula and a small bowl from the side and began feeding Everly.
Everly stretched her neck and glanced into the bowl, seeing a yellow-and-white lump. When Old John brought the spoon to her mouth, she took a small taste and immediately recognized it—it was the same baby food the policewoman had made the night before.
Hooray, a brand-new menu had officially begun!