"Yes. Your nonna and I are having a cappuccino."
"Good. I'm bringing a friend home and I need you to sit with her while I talk to Father."
"Her? You're bringing a girl home?" she asked.
I'd dated plenty of women, but I'd never once brought one to meet my parents, so I could understand Mamma's disbelief. "Yes. And I need a favor."
"Of course. Anything."
"Please get in touch with Dr. Monte and see if she can make a house call."
"But you're okay?"
"Yes."
"And Bones is okay?"
"Yes."
Mamma hesitated for a moment and I knew she was putting two and two together. "I'll call Dr. Monte now."
Mamma disconnected, and I met Markie's gaze in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she immediately looked away.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry," I said.
"Sorry for what? Believing I would ever hurt you or your family? Or for kidnapping me at gunpoint? Or for forcing me to tell you my secret?"
"The first two. You should have told me about the cancer from the beginning."
"Not your call."
Bones had watched the entire exchange in what appeared to be shock. Finally, he shook himself and asked, "You really have cancer, Markie?"
Her glare turned on him. "It's not like diabetes. I don't have a bracelet or a card to show you, or I would."
We rode the rest of the way in silence. By the time I got to my parents' house, Dr. Monte's car was parked in the driveway. Not surprising, since the doctor lived only three houses down. I led Markie into the kitchen to meet my mom, grandmother, and Dr. Monte.
Mamma and Nonna looked Markie over, no doubt wondering why she looked like she'd been crying, and then turned their questioning gazes on me. I didn't have time for the goddamn barrage of questions I'm sure was coming, so I focused on Dr. Monte.
"This is Markie. She has a cancerous brain tumor and we need to know everything about it. As soon as possible."
Dr. Monte nodded and situated her briefcase on the table. "I'll get some information from her, have her sign a consent form, and pull her records while my office runs our own tests. You'll know as soon as I hear back."
"Great. Thank you. Markie, please stay with them. I have to go speak to my father."
I turned to leave, but Mamma and Nonna both intercepted me, tugging me into the living room.
"Who is she?" Mamma asked.
"Her name is Markie Davis. She volunteers at an orphanage. Father thought she was planted with me--either by the pigs or another family--but I don't think so."
The two women shared a look.
"Who is she to you?" Nonna asked.
The question caught me off guard. I glanced back at the kitchen and felt my chest tighten. Who was she to me? Everything. When I thought she might be dirty, I'd been willing to go against my old man to save her. Now? Now she was dying, and I was desperate to do something to make sure that didn't happen.
"I need her to live," I replied.
