Ashes Before Dawn
Nearby, Max had been sleeping curled up on the couch.
Hearing Joshua return, he rubbed his eyes, climbed into his father's lap, and wrapped his little arms around him.
"Dad… I'm sleepy. Will you sleep with me?"
Joshua glanced at his watch. It was already one in the morning. He picked Max up and carried him upstairs.
"It's so late. Why are you still awake? Didn't one of the maids read you a bedtime story?"
Max puffed out his cheeks unhappily.
"Every night, Mom made me sweet soup before bed. The maids don't know how to, and they don't tell stories as nicely as Mom did. I can't fall asleep."