By: Melinda Leigh  “Mommy, where's Aunt Helen?”  Five-year-old
Chris stood in the doorway of the bedroom.  His too-large footed
pajamas sagged around his ankles.  There were no tears on his
face.  He wasn't mature enough to comprehend the finality of his
favorite aunt's death.  It would take a while, Sam knew, but he
was starting to sense that something terrible and irrevocable
had happened in his world.  The stuffed puppy tucked under his
arm had been a Christmas gift from Aunt Helen.  He hadn't put it
down all day.  “She's in heaven, honey.”    “With Grandma and
Grandpa?” he asked with more curiosity than sadness.  Oh, God.
 Raw grief from her parents' sudden deaths the previous year in
a car accident welled up into her throat, but already, Chris
barely remembered them.  Sam swallowed the huge ball of grief
that choked her and tried to sound positive.  “Yes.  With
Grandma and  “That's good.  I'm glad she's not alone.”    “Me,
too.”  Sam wasn't sure she believed any of it, but what else
could she tell her ki