or, I had only a cardigan,

ed to keep my hands moving. Folding clothes

up late,

one hand on the doorknob. Four hours earlier, that hand

pac

icholas, it was hard to tell. "If this is about the east wing, Mother only meant it temporar

made it sou

eadier than I expected. "There's something I need to tel

e problem to handle. "Abb

matt

seemed important

you have family here? The gray shadow on the scan. I thought, If

ick,"

ent

ething flicker behind his eyes-fear, maybe, or the

it wa

" he r

hospital toda

flat. "Is this another at

is

e silence, the way you look at Naomi like she took something from you. I told you wh

ge your mind about Naomi. I

n't c

between us, h

only sta

For eight years, all I've heard is that something is wrong with you. You're tired. Unhappy. Fragile. Every time I turn around, there's another way I've let you down. I can't

left m

f you're dying, then die. Just d

meant for it to c

a hundred times. He was exhausted, cornered, pushed too far. He said the cruel

between us. He coul

e, d

like my name called

rstand,

ose-crossed his face. He took half

. I d

s ok

wai

smile, the one I'd spent eight years

ent

heavy. Pride was a hard thing to carry, and Nicholas had carried his since

icked softl

on t

comes. But nothing happened. Just a cold, clear ringing in my

dying, f

rboards

oked

m one hand. Her braid had come loose, and her eyes were red and swollen. Fo

ney, what

vered just past the carpet, as if

y shouting,"

t shoutin

ou." She hugged the r

he was seven and scared. Maybe I could kneel, open my arms, and she'd r

hed fo

ly. "I'm sick, bab

ie Naomi

nd st

ha

hild who had already decided what answer she wanted. "Grandma says if you go away, Auntie Na

ldn't

her voice cracking. That small break hurt mor

feet slapping the floor, th

in silence f

ed up the folde

The only thing in the house

t to Mary. Then Lily's words came back-"I don't want yo

othed them across the vanity.

already said

the s

dark and quiet. No one would know I

ought, then turn