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“Hey, Ten. I’m so sorry. I was watching her. I just took a damn shower. Are you almost home?”

“Yes, and don’t be sorry, Marlo. You and I both know it wasn’t your fault. I’m okay. I promise. Do you need me? I could probably figure out a way to get there.”

“No. It’s my turn. You stayed here last time. You even missed school. And I don’t have to work until Tuesday. I’m just sorry you’ll spend the holiday alone. We might be here for a few days. I didn’t even think about Christmas until I got here and saw the tree in the hospital lobby.”

“I’m good. Don’t worry about me. I love you.” We both knew Christmas didn’t mean much in our trailer anyway. It was just another day.

“I love you too, baby sis. Oh hey, they need me to fill something out. Call me here if you need anything, okay? I’ll be curled up in the waiting room, but I’ll check for messages at the nurses’ station.”

Well, at least she’d be warm in the waiting room. “Okay. Bye, Mar.”

“Bye, Ten.”

I paused for a second, staring at the phone and when Kyland looked at me questioningly, breathing into his hands to warm them up, I said, “They’re okay. Settled in. They’ll be there through Christmas, which…well.” I took a deep breath. “That’s just the way it is.” I was silent again, considering something before I picked up the phone book again and looked up a number in Evansly. After a couple rings, a man’s voice answered.

“Hi, Dr. Nolan? Sam?”

“Yes? How can I help you?”

I cleared my throat. “This is Tenleigh Falyn…I, shoot I…” I suddenly had doubts. Marlo would kill me. What was I doing?

“Tenleigh, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“I…well, our mama, uh…had an incident and well, Marlo’s at the hospital with her and I just thought, I mean, I wondered if you’d want to…”

“I’m putting my jacket on, Tenleigh. Which floor is she on?”

“The twelfth.” I knew because we’d been there so much.

He was quiet for a second. “The mental ward?”

“Yes,” I whispered, closing my eyes, shame making me doubt what I was doing again. “I know you’re a dentist, not a doctor, but I thought…God, I don’t even know. I’m sorry. It’s Christmas Eve.” I glanced at Kyland, who was watching me closely as I fumbled my way through the phone call.

“You did the right thing. At the very least I can go and keep Marlo company. Are you okay?”

I released a breath. “Yes, I’m fine. And that’s really nice of you,” I said, gratitude making my voice squeaky.

“I’m really glad you called me. Thank you.”

“No, thank you. Truly, thank you. Bye, Sam.”

I hung up and took a deep, calming breath. Marlo would likely murder me, but I felt good about what I’d done. Maybe Marlo didn’t want to date him, but he was a nice guy. I had a good feeling about him. And everyone could use a nice friend or two, right?

“That was a friend of Marlo’s,” I said to Kyland. “I just called him to see if he would go sit with Marlo. The floor my mama’s on, it’s not the most pleasant of places, and there’s absolutely nothing to do except read the same brochures again and again.”

He nodded sadly, and we set off up the hill. I was glad Kyland didn’t ask me any questions at that moment—I wasn’t quite ready to say any more. Half an hour later, we were at my trailer, where I threw the door open and we hurried in. At least Marlo had closed the door before running after Mama or it’d be freezing inside. Our breath still plumed in the air. I turned on the two small portable heaters we had, although I knew it’d be a while before our drafty old trailer felt even remotely comfortable. I started stripping my wet boots off, and when I looked up at Kyland, he was standing by the doorway uncomfortably.

“You should get dry,” I said. “I mean…unless you need to get home. Oh!” I slapped my forehead. “You need to get home. Your mama—”

He shook his head. “No. My mama’s fine. She’s not waiting up for me. I just…I wish I could offer you a ride to the hospital. Will your sister need you there?”

I threw my boots aside and started peeling off my wet socks, still shivering. “No. We…take turns. It’s what we do,” I said. I didn’t offer more than that, but Kyland nodded as if he understood, removing his shoes and socks too. We took off our coats and I tossed him a blanket folded up on the couch where I slept. I pulled one around me as well and settled back, nodding to the spot next to me.

He hesitated for a second but then sat down and pulled a blanket around himself too.