Page 146 of Smoky Mountain Dreams

Marcy was asleep, which Jesse considered a blessing, and laypeacefully, if utterly changed since Brigid had last seen her.

“Brigid, baby,” Jesse said, putting his arm around hershoulder. He didn’t know what else to say. If she wasn’t going to run screamingfrom the room, then who was he to suggest that she leave? Who was he to suggestthat she do anything at all? This was her choice and he was only here tosupport her.

“Oh.” Her voice was tiny.

Christopher’s arm went around on top of Jesse’s, and theyheld her close to both of their sides. They were silent for a long time, andthen Brigid took a deep breath.

“Okay,” she said, and she moved forward and smoothed thepaper on the blanket that covered her mother’s legs. She folded the crane withshaking fingers, making no mistakes, like her hands knew what to do all ontheir own.

When she was done, she held the glistening, golden cranegently in the palm of her hand. She closed her eyes and took a long, slowbreath, and then let it out.

“Mommy,” she whispered, “Will and I wish you were…” Shepaused, and a deep silence filled the room.

Jesse felt a sob growing in his chest.

“Free,” Brigid finished. “We wish you were free.”

She set the crane on her mother’s chest, which moved up anddown with a steady, endless rhythm. Brigid turned on her heel and walked pastJesse and Christopher straight out the door.

As they drove home in silence, Christopher kept lookingat Jesse from the passenger seat, wondering what he should say or do. In theback, Will glumly played games on the iPad and Brigid stared out the window,her expression glacially calm, like she hadn’t just completed the last task inher months-long herculean effort to magically bring back her mother.

Jesse met his gaze with a tight frown, checking Brigid inthe rearview mirror and then making a worried face at Christopher again.

“You okay, B?” Will asked out of the blue, breaking thesilence in the car.

“Yeah,” she said.

“Did it work?”

“No.”

“Figures.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “Daddy, how long are you and Aunt Ronniegoing to fight about Mom?”

Jesse blew out a long breath, his hands tightening on thewheel. “I don’t know, baby. I hope for not much longer. I guess we’ll see whatthe new year brings.”

Brigid took this in. “Okay.” After a few moments, she asked,“Daddy, did you wrap my special present for Christopher?”

She said his name easily and with a fondness thatChristopher wasn’t prepared for on the heels of what must have been adisappointing morning. His eyes prickled.

Jesse cleared his throat. “Of course.”

“You used the silver wrapping paper with a red bow, like Isaid?”

“Of course.”

Christopher felt a warmth bloom in his chest. “You didn’thave to get me anything special.”

Brigid scoffed. “What kind of Christmas would it be withoutsomething special?”

“Yeah,” Will agreed, not taking his eyes from the iPad.

Jesse said softly, “B, is there anywhere you want to go?Anything special you’d like to do?”

“No. I just want to go home with you Will and Christopher. Ijust want to be with my family.” She grabbed the iPad from Will.

“Hey!” he shouted.