Read Online A Plunder by Pilgrims by Jack Nolte - Free Book Online

white. 
    "Sorry," he said.
    "Don't go apologizing.  I don't like hospitals either.  I need to ask you something before Zoe comes back."
    "Okay."
    She smiled, and for the first time since he'd known her, she looked scared.  "She's a good kid, you know.  Don't be fooled by the way she dresses.  She may act out some, but she's good inside."
    "I know."
    "She's had to grow up fast.  Way too fast.  I feel bad about that.  She didn't need to deal with my problems after everything she's been through."
    Gage patted her hand.  "She's lucky to have you, Mattie."
    "Yeah, maybe.  But I worry about what's going to happen to her when I'm gone."
    "Mattie — "
    "Let's cut through the bullshit, okay?  I know the clock's ticking.  It really started ticking when I said no to surgery and more chemo.  I also know that girl, she's practically an adult as it is.  But she's not.  She's only sixteen.  She's only hinted at it, but I'm pretty sure she wants me to sign some papers emancipating her so that she won't end up in foster care when I'm gone.  And I don't blame her.  Who knows what could happen to her then."
    Gage didn't know what to say.
    "But see," Mattie went on, her voice growing hoarse, "I don't think she's ready.  Oh, she could take care of herself all right.  She's more mature than most folks twice her age.  One thing I did that wasn't stupid is I kept paying on my life insurance, so at least there's a little money — not much, but a little — to help her for a few years, maybe get her going at college.  But she's not ready.  You know what I'm saying?  It's not the taking care of herself part.  It's the being alone part."
    "Mattie — "
    "No, hear me out now.  Zoe, she's been alone so much as it is.  Her whole life, she's hardly had anybody."  She swallowed hard, and he saw the muscles of her throat contracting and constricting like the gears of an old motor.  "So here's what I want to ask you, Garrison.  Here's what I want to ask.  I need somebody to look out for her until she turns eighteen.  Will you do that for me?  I know I'm asking a lot."
    Gage should have seen it coming, but he hadn't.  The idea of watching over a child, even one almost an adult, scared the hell out of him.  "You want me to let her go on staying at the house?  Because that's fine.  I wasn't going to kick her out.  I could check on her now and then — "
    "No, no," she said, shaking her head.  "I know this is hard, but I'm asking if she could live with you?"
    "Live with me?"
    Mattie nodded, her eyes bright and glimmering.  It was strange, because it took tears to give her face new vitality.  "Yes," she said softly.  "I want to sign over custody of her to you."
    It was one of the few times in Gage's life when he was struck speechless.  The last time had been a decade earlier, when Janet had told him in no uncertain terms that they were either going down to the courthouse and getting married before the month was out, or he'd have to pack his bags and find some other girl to shack up with.  But this hit him harder.  He'd never wanted children.  It wasn't because he didn't like them—he was indifferent, really, not having strong feelings about them either way.  They were usually just something he had to maneuver around on his way to something else.  But he'd definitely never wanted any of his own.  It had been easy, because Janet hadn't wanted them either.
    "You got that deer in the headlights look," Mattie said.
    "Sorry," Gage said.
    "It's not a prison sentence.  It'd only be for a couple years."
    "I know.  It's just . . . wow.  There isn't — isn't anybody else?"
    She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.  "I wouldn't ask if there was anybody else—at least anybody I could trust."
    "What does Zoe think about this?"
    "To be honest, I haven't told her."
    "Oh."
    "I gotta be straight with you, Garrison.  She'll probably throw one hell of a fit.  But I'll make it my dying wish.  She wouldn't dare spite me