Page 6 of Summertime Rapture

Finally, she’d remembered where she came from.

“She hasn’t answered in a while,” Mallory murmured, terrified, her mind heavy with possibilities:Zachery at the hospital hooked to an IV? Maybe Elsa was too scared to call Mallory and tell her the truth?

“Let’s call Nancy, then.” Alexie dialed Nancy’s number and waited, her chin set.

Mallory was so grateful that someone else had taken over for a change. She nearly wept with a mix of joy and fear.

“Hi, there!” Alexie began. “Ah! It’s Alyssa, answering Nancy’s phone. I see. Hi, new cousin! I have Mallory here, and she’s quite scared about the state of little Zach.”

Mallory studied Alexie’s face as though it was a constellation of stars, trying to note little patterns as she learned about Zachery’s fate. She felt outside of her body.

“That’s fantastic news!” Alexie beamed. “And Grandma Nancy and Mom are both passed out in front of the television? That’s typical, isn’t it? Alyssa, I know you and Maggie are playing ‘mom’ these days to that adorable baby girl, but you really should get back to the city to hang out with me.”

Mallory snapped her fingers, demanding that Alexie end the call and explain what was happening. Finally, she did as she was told.

“Zachery’s fever went down. Mom and Nancy were both too exhausted to stay up to text you. It was all a big misunderstanding,” Alexie informed her.

Mallory crumpled to the ground, relief flooding through her. Her limbs felt like melting butter.

“Come on,” Alexie said. “I’m starving. And it sounds like I just made some money to take us out on the town.”