“Mom, I really have to go.”
“Am I going to see you at all this Christmas?”
“What about Mervin?” That was her mom’s new boyfriend.
“He’ll want to spend time with his kids, and I don’t get along with them.”
No surprise there. Her mother enjoyed being the center of attention. “Call me when you have a day off and I’ll come for a visit.”
“I work a lot during the holidays.”
Same old line. Same old verse. “Please think about coming here for Christmas. Once you meet Emma, you’ll love her. She had nothing to do with your marriage or your divorce. She’s just an innocent little girl.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” her mother said, and clicked off.
Lacey sat for a moment and wished her mother would come to grips with the past and her part in it. But maybe some things just were not doable. Or realistic, considering the way her mother felt.
Now Lacey had a little girl who was eager to go to the park. She reached for her jacket and hurried to the kitchen. But Emma wasn’t there and she wasn’t in the living room. Or anywhere in the house.
No! No! No!
Lacey ran out the back door and stopped short. The gate was open. Gabe had removed the board? She walked slowly to the opening and could see Emma sitting on a lawn chair, huddled in her red-and-black coat. Gabe sat next to her in a black hoodie and jeans. They were staring at Pepper in her bed. Neither was speaking. There was complete silence.
What were they doing?
Gabe didn’t seem upset that Emma was there. Lacey’s first instinct was to go over and make Emma come back to their house. But something stopped her.
A plane flew overhead. A car honked and the wind rustled through the leaves of the tall oaks. Other than that, the two of them sat there in perfect harmony. Perfect silence. Lacey couldn’t bring herself to interrupt.
Suddenly, Emma said, “Pepper is sick. When I was sick, my daddy took me to the doctor. You have to take Pepper to the doctor.”
Gabe didn’t answer or look at Emma. His eyes were on the dog.
“My daddy died, so he can’t take me anymore. Lacey does. Daddy’s in heaven and Lacey says he can see me. But I can’t see him. I miss my daddy.” Emma wiped at her eyes and Lacey wanted to run over, but again she didn’t. “Do you miss your son?”
Lacey’s heart sank at the question. She should get Emma before she caused Gabe any more pain. But for some reason she couldn’t explain, she stood there, holding her breath, waiting for Gabe to answer.
Gabe’s throat locked tight. He couldn’t push a sound through. Nor could he breathe. His body stiffened in protest, needing oxygen. Just when he thought the pain would get him, Pepper saved him. She whimpered, and the child jumped from her chair and went to the dog.
The little girl stroked Pepper and Gabe wanted to scream, Don’t touch her. She’s Zack’s dog. Get away from her. But the words wouldn’t come. In that moment he realized just how insane his thoughts were, and the lock on his throat lessened. He breathed in deeply, his lungs expanding from the much needed relief.
“Pepper is sick, Mr. Gabe,” the kid said.
He knew that. He wanted to tell her it was none of her business and that she should go home. But once again the words wouldn’t come. Maybe because Pepper had lifted her head and licked the child’s hand. Pepper liked the kid. He’d never noticed that before. He hadn’t noticed many things beyond the pain in his chest.
“She’s shaking. I think she’s cold.” The kid noticed the blanket by the basket and gently tucked it around Pepper.
It was getting colder. He should take Pepper inside, but whenever he did, she whined to go out. He was just giving her a little more time.
The kid stood up. “I gotta go. Lacey’s probably looking for me. She doesn’t like it when I come over here. But you don’t mind, do you?”
Yes, I mind. Please, just leave me alone.
“Lacey and me have the same father. We’re sisters. Her mama lives in Austin and I’ve never met her. Do you have a sister?”
Yes. He should call Kate and let her know he was...what? Still living with the pain. She wouldn’t want to hear that, so it was best to wait a little longer.
“I gotta go. Don’t forget to take Pepper to the doctor. He’ll make her all better. ’Bye.”
Not this time.
The child ran to the gate. Gabe got up and squatted next to Pepper.
“You like the kid, don’t you?”
Pepper nuzzled his hand in approval.
But she’s not Zack. She’s not Zack.
* * *
LACEY HURRIED INTO the house and was standing just inside the back door as Emma came through it.
“Oh,” Emma said, startled.
Lacey folded her arms across her chest. “You’ve been over at Gabe’s.”
She would have to discipline Emma, even though it would hurt Lacey more than it did her sister. She’d let her disobey too many times, though. Gabe hadn’t seemed to mind Emma being there, but Emma had done all of the talking. Gabe hadn’t responded once. And Emma needed to know that she had to mind and respect other people’s wishes.
“Uh...” Emma twisted her hands. “You were on the phone and I heard Pepper.”
“You can’t hear the dog from inside the house.”
“Yes, I...”
“No.” Lacey pointed a finger at Emma. “You’ve disobeyed me twice today, and now I have to punish you.”
“No, Lacey, no. Don’t punish me.” Emma barreled into Lacey, wrapping her arms around Lacey’s waist, and burying her face in Lacey’s stomach. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
Lacey swallowed, trying to be strong. “You say that all the time and you still disobey me. Go to your room and sit in the time-out chair.”
“No. I don’t want to.”
Lacey pointed toward the hall. “Go.”
“No. I’ll be good!” Emma wailed.
Lacey took Emma’s hand and led her down the hall to her bedroom. Emma sobbed loudly the whole time and Lacey’s strength waned. She pulled out Emma’s desk chair and placed it in a corner.
“Take off your coat and sit and think about what you
