His back had been scraped and sore from where he'd fell, and his palm had a grace from where the skin had been shredded, but for the sake of Asa's sad eyes, he shook his head, squeezing his fist close. He regretted leaving Seashine and Hope upstairs to nap because holding them would have felt much better.

"Nug. I appy." Which wasn't a total lie. He felt happier than he had been, but sadness was like a big fluffy labradoodle that wanted to sleep on your chest. The pressure had a way of keeping you down.

"You are?" Asa whispered. Which in itself made him squirm. He'd known Asa for...