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“Wait, you mean that’s what you have to do?” Mairin was aghast. “You have to give it away? To strangers? Like you’ll never

see your own child?”

“They’re not giving me a choice,” Fiona said, her face crumpling. “I don’t have a say.”

“Oh, Fiona.” Mairin looked at her best friend, feeling a deep, aching helplessness. “I’m so sorry. This isn’t fair.”

“They said I ruined my life, but at least this way, the baby will have a chance.”

A chance at what? Mairin wondered. “I wish there was something I could do. Anything.”

Fiona wound the swing up, then let it spin. “Just... promise you’ll be there. After it’s all done.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Mairin said. “Where would I go?”

Fiona nodded glumly. “Hey, I’d better get back. My mom’s already mad enough at me.”

“I’ll walk you.” They left the park as the shadows grew long across the dying grass, and they slowly began to retrace their

steps. “I’m probably in trouble, too, if you want to know the truth. A different kind of trouble.” She told Fiona about Kevin’s

sleeve catching on fire and her outburst in church.

Fiona laughed through her tears. “You’re kidding. You went right up past the railing? To the high altar?”

“He was on fire and no one but me seemed to notice.” She felt her cheeks color up. “We went to the movies together last night.

Saw The Graduate at the Landmark.”

“Well, well, well.” Fiona wiggled her eyebrows. “How did that go?”

It was kind of strange, just talking about normal things, all the while knowing Fiona was going to have a baby. A baby. “It was nice, I guess. The movie was really good. Afterward, he walked me to the bus stop. I didn’t dare stay out too late.”

“Hmm.” Fiona seemed preoccupied, and Mairin didn’t blame her. “Don’t let him... you know, go too far.”

Mairin understood the warning. She wasn’t quite sure what too far meant, though.

As they arrived back at the house, she wasn’t sure what else to say, so she just grabbed her friend into a brief, fierce hug.

“Listen, no matter what happens, you’ll always be my best friend.

Forever. And I’ll come to Bradford to see you if I can figure out a way to get there.

And I’ll write you letters and save up my money for a long-distance phone call. ”

Fiona nodded and stepped back. “It just doesn’t seem real. It’ll probably be scary, but I’m not scared yet.”

“Don’t be scared,” Mairin said. “And remember I’m your best friend.”

“You are. Yeah. Anyway, Mom’s making Flynn drive me down there tonight.”

“Tonight? Jeez Louise.”

“I know.”

Mairin felt an unexpected lump in her throat. Fiona was going to have a baby. It seemed impossible. She looked the same. Sounded

the same. Yet she was going to have a baby and give it away to somebody.

“ Fiona.” Mrs. Gallagher’s voice shot through the hallway.

Fiona glanced over her shoulder. “I better go.” The screen door snapped shut on its coiled spring.

Mairin stood on the front porch for a moment, feeling completely disoriented. Then she heaved a sigh. The day was warming

up to a blast of Indian summer. She didn’t feel like hanging around the house, getting yelled at about church. Maybe she’d

ride her bike across the Peace Bridge to Crystal Beach and hang out with some of her other friends there.

She turned to see Flynn rolling himself out from under the car on his mechanic’s dolly. She tried not to stare at the long,

ropey muscles of his arms, slick with sweat. He lifted the tail of his T-shirt and wiped his face, revealing a ripple of muscle.

“Hey, Mairin,” he said.

“Hey.” Her shoulders slumped with the weight of Fiona’s news.

“So I guess my sister told you,” he said.

Mairin nodded, knowing her cheeks were touched by fire. She wasn’t quite sure why it felt so awkward, talking to Fiona’s brother.

She’d known him forever. He was the big brother every girl wanted—strong and protective, funny and quick to smile. Mairin’s

own brother, Liam, was like that, too. They used to giggle about how they would get to be sisters one day if only they would

marry each other’s brother.

She didn’t feel like giggling now. “I’d better get home,” she said, wishing she wasn’t wearing her church clothes. They made her look, like, twelve years old.

As she turned away, he said, “Hey, Mairin?”

She pivoted back to face him. He had the bluest eyes in the world. “Yeah?”

“Listen, that favor you did for Fiona. Giving her your wages. She told me.”

“I’d do anything for Fiona. We’re best friends.”

“She’s lucky to know you. And I’m glad you called me to come get her from work.”

Mairin couldn’t imagine a world without Fiona. “It just doesn’t seem right that she has to go away, like she’s a criminal

or something.”

“There are a lot of things in this world that don’t seem right.”

“My brother Liam got drafted,” she blurted out. “We just found out. I’m really scared for him.”

“Oh, man. That’s tough.” He raked a hand through his hair.

“I’m scared he won’t come home.”

“Most guys get through it okay.”

“I hope you’re right. Are you gonna get drafted?” she asked.

He shook his head. “You’re looking at lucky number three sixty-six.”

“Wow, that is lucky.” It was the highest possible number, meaning his chances of being called were nil. “So, do you like working

at the Agway?” she asked, not wanting the conversation to end.

“It’s all right. I’ve been driving deliveries for Fiorelli’s produce, too. I’m planning to buy his supply truck—you know,

the one that makes all the gourmet produce deliveries. He offered me a stake in the business when he retires.” He grinned.

“I like to eat, and I like to drive. I plan to save up for a place of my own. A farm.”

She pictured him with Haley on their fairy-tale farm, surrounded by beautiful kids and growing things. It seemed impossibly

romantic, awakening a strange ache of yearning in her chest. “You and Haley Moore?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, maybe not her.”

“I thought you were, like, dating her.”

“Dating doesn’t mean getting married.” He laughed aloud and ruffled her curls. “Could be I prefer redheads.”

She blushed to her roots, wishing he didn’t always treat her like a kid.

He dug in his pocket and took out a coin and placed it in her hand. “Here. Hang on to this. It’s just a token to remind you that you can always call me. I know it’s not the same as having your brother around, but...”

“It’s a Mercury dime,” she said, studying the profile.

“Nothing special, but it’s from the year I was born.”

He was five years older than Mairin. She grinned. “Well... okay, thanks.”

“Call anytime you need me.” He smiled back. “See you around, Mairin.”