Chapter 1193

"Yeah!" Willow answered instinctively to Ian's question. Then, she realized that her response might not sound appropriate. It was true that Aaron called her mommy and that she adored him, but he had a stepmother. It could cause problems if this reached that particular man's ears. "Well, not exactly..." Willow gave an awkward laugh. "I'm not Aaron's birth mother. We just really connect, so I guess I'm more like his godmother!" The flicker of light that had kindled in Ian's eyes slowly faded back to darkness. Willow was dead. He had watched the crematorium workers place her body, wrapped in burlap, into the furnace. When she emerged, she was nothing but ashes. Indeed, someone reduced to ashes could not possibly come back to life. "Mom..." Seeing Willow engaged in conversation with Ian, Aaron tugged at her hand to get her attention. Reading his lips, Willow's heart melted. She took his small hand. "Aaron, are you hungry? Should I take you for a late-night snack?" "Mommy was