Chapter 38 - Katie

I wake with voices swimming around me and when I open my eyes, Casper is staring at me from the edge of the couch.

He flashes me a brilliant smile and asks, “Mommy, are you feeling better?”

I pat his head and nod. “Yes, I’m feeling better. I’m still really sore, but I’m not as tired now. Are your uncles and aunts here?”

He quickly nods his head. “But daddy won’t let me in the kitchen, so I came to sit with you.”

I move slightly, trying to sit up a little. I furrow my eyebrows together. “Why won’t daddy let you in the kitchen?”

He shrugs his shoulders and whines, “I don’t know. They just said it is important.”

I push myself up into a sitting position and look at my watch. Dang, I’ve been asleep for hours. Why didn’t anyone wake me up?

I move to get up off the couch, and pain shoots through my body. The bulk of the ache is from last night’s activities, but there are muscles aching now which didn’t before. I glance down at the couch and massage the back of my neck. The couc