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Authors: Sandra Steffen
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into Mya’s eyes, she said, “Since there aren’t any, my only other option would be to find a match through the national bone marrow registry. Finding a close enough match from a non-blood-related donor makes survival more like a crapshoot.”
There were twin circles of pink on Mya’s cheeks. The rest of her face had paled. “Does your family back in Pennsylvania know you’re here?”
Elle said, “My poor dad. He’s not happy about it, but I’ve gotta make sure Kaylie’s taken care of.” She looked at Mya. “You’re not running. That must mean you’re considering it. Don’t you think you should talk it over with the Minute Man?”
In the ensuing silence, all three heard Kaylie wake from her morning nap. Elle started to rise. Gently, Mya placed her hand on the girl’s knee. “I’ll go.”
Watching Mya disappear down the hall, Millie said, “That girl never could sit still in times like these. I told her you were hiding something bad. I’d give anything to have been wrong. You probably noticed that she holds a lot in. One of these days the dam’s going to break. I doubtit’ll be pretty, but we’ll get through it, the same way we’ll get through this. Together.”
Elle wished she was half as sure about that.
They could hear Mya and Kaylie in the other room. Millicent was quiet. Elle figured the old lady was entitled to her own thoughts.
“Elle?” she finally asked.
“Yeah?”
“Is your stepmother’s name really Brunhilde?”
Elle glanced sideways in surprise. “It’s Roberta.”
Millicent turned her head slowly and said, “Girl, I like your style.”
In a million years, Elle hadn’t expected to smile today.
“Kaylie and I are going to bed. Tell Mya and Jeffrey good-night, Kaylie.”
Kaylie stared solemnly over Elle’s shoulder.
“It’s only nine o’clock,” Mya said, launching herself from the couch. “You’re welcome to sit with us after you put Kaylie to bed. We’ll watch any movie you want. Or we could always talk. Or play a board game or cards.”
Hoisting the baby higher onto her bony hip, Elle started down the hall. Mya had little choice but to fall into step beside her.
“Kaylie took a short nap today,” Elle said. “Besides, I figure you and the good doctor have a lot to talk about.” Up-on reaching the spare room, she lowered her voice even more. “You want him mellow, start with a BJ.”
Mya shot Elle a look the girl didn’t have the decency to stick around long enough to see.
Jeffrey was waiting patiently when she returned to the living room. Fingers laced behind his head, he smiled. “It’s amazing how young they learn these days.”
It was just her luck he’d heard.
“She’s right, by the way,” he said.
Mya tilted her head slightly, giving him a sardonic look. Accustomed to her sardonic looks, he said, “I take it Eleanor confirmed your suspicions.”
She wanted to shout, “Her name is Elle!” But her painstakingly acquired good sense kept her still. Besides, Elle was as bad when it came to names as he was.
Mya had been rehearsing what she would say all day. The afternoon had gone by in a blur. She’d opened Brynn’s just before lunchtime. Suzette and Claire had arrived after school, and for once, she’d welcomed Suzette’s positive outlook. After checking her personal tides of the moon chart, Suzette had deemed tonight a good night to discuss serious issues.
Issues didn’t come much more serious than this.
As so often happened, she found herself at the window. The porch light was on, illuminating the soggy yard and competing with the quarter moon. “I know why Elle cameto Maine. You were right about the drugs. They’re low-dose chemotherapy.”
“I’m sorry, Mya.”
“She came here to put her affairs in order.”
“What affairs?”
“She’s looking for someone to take Kaylie. In case…” She couldn’t think it let alone say it out loud. Looking at Jeff, she said, “Me, to be exact.”
Jeff sat back. And
There were twin circles of pink on Mya’s cheeks. The rest of her face had paled. “Does your family back in Pennsylvania know you’re here?”
Elle said, “My poor dad. He’s not happy about it, but I’ve gotta make sure Kaylie’s taken care of.” She looked at Mya. “You’re not running. That must mean you’re considering it. Don’t you think you should talk it over with the Minute Man?”
In the ensuing silence, all three heard Kaylie wake from her morning nap. Elle started to rise. Gently, Mya placed her hand on the girl’s knee. “I’ll go.”
Watching Mya disappear down the hall, Millie said, “That girl never could sit still in times like these. I told her you were hiding something bad. I’d give anything to have been wrong. You probably noticed that she holds a lot in. One of these days the dam’s going to break. I doubtit’ll be pretty, but we’ll get through it, the same way we’ll get through this. Together.”
Elle wished she was half as sure about that.
They could hear Mya and Kaylie in the other room. Millicent was quiet. Elle figured the old lady was entitled to her own thoughts.
“Elle?” she finally asked.
“Yeah?”
“Is your stepmother’s name really Brunhilde?”
Elle glanced sideways in surprise. “It’s Roberta.”
Millicent turned her head slowly and said, “Girl, I like your style.”
In a million years, Elle hadn’t expected to smile today.
“Kaylie and I are going to bed. Tell Mya and Jeffrey good-night, Kaylie.”
Kaylie stared solemnly over Elle’s shoulder.
“It’s only nine o’clock,” Mya said, launching herself from the couch. “You’re welcome to sit with us after you put Kaylie to bed. We’ll watch any movie you want. Or we could always talk. Or play a board game or cards.”
Hoisting the baby higher onto her bony hip, Elle started down the hall. Mya had little choice but to fall into step beside her.
“Kaylie took a short nap today,” Elle said. “Besides, I figure you and the good doctor have a lot to talk about.” Up-on reaching the spare room, she lowered her voice even more. “You want him mellow, start with a BJ.”
Mya shot Elle a look the girl didn’t have the decency to stick around long enough to see.
Jeffrey was waiting patiently when she returned to the living room. Fingers laced behind his head, he smiled. “It’s amazing how young they learn these days.”
It was just her luck he’d heard.
“She’s right, by the way,” he said.
Mya tilted her head slightly, giving him a sardonic look. Accustomed to her sardonic looks, he said, “I take it Eleanor confirmed your suspicions.”
She wanted to shout, “Her name is Elle!” But her painstakingly acquired good sense kept her still. Besides, Elle was as bad when it came to names as he was.
Mya had been rehearsing what she would say all day. The afternoon had gone by in a blur. She’d opened Brynn’s just before lunchtime. Suzette and Claire had arrived after school, and for once, she’d welcomed Suzette’s positive outlook. After checking her personal tides of the moon chart, Suzette had deemed tonight a good night to discuss serious issues.
Issues didn’t come much more serious than this.
As so often happened, she found herself at the window. The porch light was on, illuminating the soggy yard and competing with the quarter moon. “I know why Elle cameto Maine. You were right about the drugs. They’re low-dose chemotherapy.”
“I’m sorry, Mya.”
“She came here to put her affairs in order.”
“What affairs?”
“She’s looking for someone to take Kaylie. In case…” She couldn’t think it let alone say it out loud. Looking at Jeff, she said, “Me, to be exact.”
Jeff sat back. And
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