Two Sisters Times Two Read online

3

  Davey arrived promptly at seven to relieve her. He’d left his father at home to sleep in for an extra hour then go to the office to check on the business he’d neglected the last few days. “I hope a more normal routine will perk him up,” he said without much conviction. He also said that his youngest brother Garrett would be driving down from Philadelphia later today, and the middle brother Brent was trying to book a flight from St. Louis.

  “And Penni?” Leah asked.

  “We talked last night. She has a prenatal appointment tomorrow. I told her to plan on keeping it, that we’d call if things changed.”

  Leah nodded. She wasn’t sure if Davey was being protective of his baby sister or walling her out. She didn’t understand how brothers worked. She’d call Penni later to get her information from the source.

  “Jodie has not returned any of my messages,” Davey said with a tinge of disapproval.

  Leah heard her sister in Davey’s tone. “I talked with Jodie last night—well, this morning—via text. I suggested she wait to see what happens before making the long trip here.”

  A frown passed across his face before disappearing as he said, “Thanks, Aunt Leah. I’ll let you deal with her.”

  Leah suddenly realized she’d unwittingly played into Davey’s plan by holding Jodie off. Or had she played into Jodie’s plan, or need? In either case, she’d be Brooke’s only female guardian for whatever transpired in the coming days. And that was O.K. with her.

  Well, not the only female guard, she noted as Sheila passed where they were standing outside of Brooke’s door. Leah caught her eye and said, “When do you sleep?”

  “In about an hour, after I finish my handoff and get a warm shower.”

  “Thanks for putting up with me.”

  Sheila smiled. “No trouble at all, though I wished you’d let me get you that blanket and pillow.”

  Leah nodded. “Maybe tonight.”

  “I’ll be here.”

  Leah said, “Me too,” then instantly realized she’d made a bold assumption with her remark. But no—not assumption, rather a wish, a prayer.

  She drove to Brooke and Dave’s house through thin outbound traffic (the incoming traffic was in rush-hour lockdown) and had a light breakfast of toast and herbal tea with Dave who looked vastly better for the full night’s rest and morning shower and change into a pressed shirt and neatly knotted tie. Even if Brooke couldn’t appreciate her overnight vigil, she reaped ample rewards in Dave’s revived figure. After he left for the office, she changed into her flannel nightgown and slid between the covers of their plush and comfortable guest bed. She took a chance and removed her microprocessors from their magnetic attachment behind her ears, partly to let their batteries recharge (though she had spares in her purse) and also to let her sleep in her normal position on her side. But just in case, she confirmed that her phone was still on vibrate and slid it into the breast pocket of her nightgown, just above her heart. Then she fell into a deep sleep.

  In her dream she was again in a white world. But this one wasn’t populated with the white and talking animals of her youthful fantasies and escapes. This world was utterly devoid of stimuli—no smell or taste, touch or sound. And though she could see, all she could see was white. But then she realized her eyes were closed, that the white was behind her eyeballs not in front of them. This terrified her, as she thought she might be dead or trapped in some solitary blank prison. But why white, and why no sound? She struggled for what seemed ages and finally managed to crack her eyes open just a sliver. Was it her eyelids that she’d pried open or some chink in the wall of white? But then Brooke’s face appeared, filling her sight. It was Brooke’s face from her adolescence, smiling and confident. She said by moving her lips but with no accompanying sound Now I know how you survive. Leah wanted to respond Not me surviving but you—you survive! But she didn’t know how to speak and her hands were strapped to her sides or gone, in any case helpless to sign her words, as she used to practice so freely and all but unconsciously with Brooke. Brooke’s fearless smile and assurance didn’t falter despite Leah’s desperate plea that really was a warning. Could she not see it in Leah’s eyes? Then Brooke mouthed Come on; let’s look around in the long ago but still familiar challenge and dare. Then she turned to leave, forcing her sister to follow or stay. Leah wanted to follow, summoned her legs to follow. But she had no legs and could make no movement. She tried calling to Brooke but her mouth made no sound, least none she could hear. The brown hair flowing down the back of Brooke’s head turned white and merged with the white world. And Leah was again alone though no longer terrified. In her heart that had been racing, she now found—or, rather, was granted—a measure of unexpected peace and comfort.