Carter faintly heard Grace's response. His mind was still swirling with everything going on. He didn't know what to do. When his grandpa died, his grandma handled everything, all the arrangements for the funeral, talking to everyone. But this time...there was no one else. It had been just him and his grandma for so long. She was old and he should have known that she wouldn't be around forever, but...no...she couldn't be gone, not yet, not now...she had to be around, he needed her. He was only fourteen...where else could he go, what would happen to him. His mom was dead, his grandpa was dead, and he had no idea where his dad was...she wouldn't, she couldn't, she wouldn't leave him alone.
He felt Grace slip her hand into his and interlock their fingers. Carter looked down at their hands then finally met her eyes and gave a little nod at her asking if he wanted to sit down with her. They sat down on the couch in the living room. He was grateful that Grace was there, her hand in his reminded him that he wasn't so alone. She was there, she was warm and alive. They sat in silence and waited. It wasn't long before Carter heard the sirens.