Read Online The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin: A Novel by Stephanie Knipper - Free Book Online

will be here soon.”
    “Wait here,” Seth said. He jogged back to the truck and returned with a sweatshirt that he wrapped around her shoulders.
    “I wanted to tell her,” he said as he sat down. “That’s why I drove to her house that day. But just as I found my nerve to get out of the truck, Lily came outside. A man was with her. A good-looking guy, I guess. Dark hair. Neatly dressed even though it was a Saturday.”
    Seth reached into his pocket for his cigarettes. He pulled one out but didn’t light it. Instead, he tapped one end against the table, then turned it over and tapped the other end. He repeated the action several times. “The man had his arm across Lily’s shoulder, and she was laughing at something he said. They seemed . . . close.”
    “Did you talk to her?” Bundled in Seth’s sweatshirt, Antoinette’s mother looked small, but the blue tinge had left her lips.
    Seth shook his head. “She had obviously moved on. I didn’t want to interfere. I had hurt her enough already, so I left before she noticed me.”
    Antoinette’s mother reached across the table and placed her hand over his, stopping his nervous fidgeting with the cigarette. “Will you be okay with her here?”
    Seth pressed his lips into a thin smile. “I’ll be fine,” he said. “I always am.”
    The first drops of rain fell as MaryBeth and Eli returned. MaryBeth carried a white bakery box tied with a red ribbon, and Eli carried a broom.
    “I’m so sorry,” MaryBeth said to Seth. “I can’t always control my arm anymore.”
    Antoinette knew how that felt. She took another bite of her cupcake, hoping it would cheer MaryBeth. It’s good , she tried to say, but no one noticed. She tapped MaryBeth’s leg and smiled. Her teeth were coated with icing.
    No one paid attention to her. She stomped her feet. Still, no one listened.
    Eli swept the shards of glass into a dust pan. “What’s life without a little adventure?” he said with a smile, although his eyes looked sad.
    Antoinette took another bite of her cupcake. Lemon and vanilla combined together. Two of her favorite flavors. She wanted to tell MaryBeth that she understood being different.
    Antoinette tapped MaryBeth’s hand. She wanted to hear the older woman’s song.
    “Don’t,” her mother said, concern in her voice.
    “She’s okay,” MaryBeth said. “I see you finished your cupcake. Did you like it?”
    Antoinette flapped her hands. Good , she thought. It was good .
    “I’ll take that as a yes,” Eli said with a laugh, but MaryBeth’s shoulders sagged. She seemed sad.
    The sky started spitting rain. “We’d better go,” her mother said, but Antoinette wanted MaryBeth to smile.
    Seth stood and held his hand out to Antoinette’s mother. “You look tired,” he said. “Lean on me. I’ll help you to the car.”
    “MaryBeth, the cupcakes are wonderful,” Antoinette’s mother said. “You’ll sell out of them at the show.” She hugged the older woman.
    With her mother distracted, Antoinette caught MaryBeth’s hand. Bells filled her mind. Antoinette closed her eyes and followed the threads of the song. In most places, it was light as a hummingbird’s wings, but in one spot the notes were round and flat.
    Antoinette hummed along with MaryBeth’s song. She had just reached the part where the notes felt off, when her mother noticed. “Antoinette, stop.” She grabbed Antoinette’s shoulder and pulled. Through her thin cotton shirt, Antoinette felt her mother’s cold fingers, but she didn’t let go of MaryBeth’s hand. She pictured the way the woman’s song should go and hummed, correcting the notes that were off.
    “Seth?” her mother said. There was an edge of panic in her voice. “She’s going to seize.”
    Antoinette’s hands tingled, and her neck twitched. She squeezed MaryBeth’s hand hard.
    The woman groaned. “You’re hurting me, Antoinette.”
    “What’s going on?” Eli asked.
    “Antoinette, let go!” Her mother was loud,