Seeing Holden like this, Ariana let out a weary sigh and put aside the medicine. "I'm going to fix you something to eat," she declared.

"Wait for me, will you?"

She started for the kitchen, clueless that Holden and the children were tiptoeing behind her.

When she paused, Holden came to a standstill, the children at his flanks.

Ariana turned and saw them; they clearly wanted to stay by her side all the time.