Meadowlark Prairie the lady of the house

He wanted to explain himself. Towhee started out with a bit about Niamh but she didn't really want the details, so he stayed silent. The news that she had been busy miscarrying made his stomach churn; he sucked in a breath, his brows furrowing. Had Phox known? Was that why Reyes hadn't been able to find Towhee in time? Or maybe everything that went down had caused it — him, his temper. Reyes stopped walking.

What could he say that would fix that? Nothing. He couldn't do anything about it either. Reyes stood there processing the information and felt the stirrings of rage inside of himself. If he hadn't gotten in that stupid fight with Niamh he would have been there for Towhee. How was he already such a piece of shit husband and parent? 

I named them. Blackbird and Butterfly. Reyes was staring at the ground until he heard this, and looked up again, an indescribable expression on his face. They're buried outside our cave.

I should have been there. He finally says. I shouldn't have let Phox run me out. I should've— ugh, it couldn't be helped now. He shook his head and fell in to a pained silence.