Chapter 37

Steve left an hour later. Emma meant to spend the rest of the day in her dark room, three rolls of film calling to her with the urgency she felt to develop them. But, like the day before, there always seemed to be something more important to do. Instead, she found herself curled up on the couch with one child in her lap and the other at her feet, an Iron Man movie in the DVD player and a bowl of popcorn half-forgotten on the coffee table.

"Why does Pepper get to use his suit, Mom?" Justin asked.

"He was protecting her."

"But I thought only he could use it."

"She's not using it, dummy," Seth said. "She's just hiding."

"Not exactly," Emma said, knocking Seth with her foot. "And don't call your brother a dummy."

"Sorry."

Steve called as the credits began to play. Emma handed the phone to Justin, then gathered their glasses and went into the kitchen to load the dishwasher. Seth came into the room a few minutes later. "He wants to talk to you, Mom."

She slipped the phone from his ha