Page 53 of Before Eve

Gramma comes back into the kitchen, immediately picking up on the mood. “What’s wrong?”

“We told West about Maria,” Mr. Wolf says.

Gramma shakes her head. “That girl’s seen more tragedy in her tiny six years than most people do in a lifetime.”

If only they knew…and suddenly I feel compelled to assure them she’s going to be okay. Gently, I say, “Yes, but the rest of her life will be one filled with safety and love.”

West lifts his head and looks at me. Really looks at me to the point I feel it in my very core. Then he reaches over and simply takes my hand, and with that gesture, he silently tells me that he hears me. Hehearsme.

CHAPTER 27

At 5:30the next morning, I’m the only one up. The first thing I do is check my phone. There is still no response from Brynn to my last email about scheduling a phone call. Concern flares through me, and I type out another one:Is everything okay?It’s not like her to completely ignore me. I wish I could pick up my phone and call her. But we agreed I wouldn’t. It’s just not safe. She’ll call me when she can. When it’s private. When no one is listening.

After tucking the phone in my duffle. I head into the bathroom, and as I tiptoe out, I notice Maria’s door is cracked open. I peek my head inside to find her stretched out on the floor coloring.

“Hey,” I whisper.

She looks over her shoulder and waves me inside.

I step into her aquatic-themed room and stretch out beside her on the throw rug. Maria’s already done the mermaid’s hair blue, and I smile at that.

“Mind if I do her body purple?” I ask.

Maria shakes her head and goes back to highlighting a silver dolphin.

“You’re up early,” I say.

“I get bad dreams. Sometimes I have to go sleep with Gramma.”

“I have them, too. It’s good you have your Gramma to go to.”

She looks at me with a searching expression that fits someone so much older. “Do you get them a lot?”

My instinct is to change the subject, but something makes me share. “I’ve had them for years.”

“That’s a long time.”

“Yes it is, but now I don’t get them as often.”

“You don’t think I’ll have mine for years, do you?”

“Absolutely not. They’ll go away eventually.”

Maria scoots over and hugs my neck. “If you have one while you’re here, you can come sleep with me.”

Emotion clogs my throat. “Thank you, Maria.”

She nods and goes back to her dolphin.

I get a purple pencil and start in on the mermaid’s body.

Time ticks by, and we finish one picture and go on to the next. The more we do, the more settled I notice Maria becomes, like music does for me. I imagine that’s why she’s up so early and in here coloring.

Eventually, the sun comes up and brightens the room. Her clock flicks to 8:00 a.m.

“Hey, girls.” West scoots into the room, crawling right between us. He kisses my cheek. “Good morning.” Then he kisses Maria’s cheek. “Can I play?”

She hands him a white crayon. “You can do the clouds.”