“Is sheawake?”
Nadia glanced at the clock. “She was when I checked on her about half an hour ago, but she’s been sleeping a lotlately.”
Denise pulled her lips between her teeth and nodded. “How’s she doingtoday?”
The nurse’s smile faded and her eyes filled with sympathy. “I’ll page the doctor and let her know you’rehere.”
Denise looked at the desk and jerked her head in a semblance of a nod. “Thanks.” She walked further down the hall to Sarah’s room. Lifting the handle, she pushed open the door and entered the sunny private hospiceroom.
Her cousin reclined in the raised bed, her bald head pale against the pillows. The remote rested in her lax hand and her eyes were closed. Denise eased the remoteaway.
Sarah’s fingers closed around it and her eyes popped open. “I’m watching that, Cousin It.” Her voice was hoarse and broke in themiddle.
“The TV’s off, cue ball.” She forced asmile.
Sarah looked at the small flat-screen mounted on the wall across from the bed. “It was on a minuteago.”
“Uh huh.” Denise sat in the large chair next to the bed and curled her legs under her bottom. Sprocket lay down next to her. A breakfast tray sat untouched beside the bed. “You didn’t eat,pipsqueak.”
“Don’t call me that.” Sarah pushed further up on the bed. “It’s mush. Did you bring me a breakfastburrito?”
She scoffed. “After you blew chunks the last time? Hell,no.”
A weak smile stretched the paper-thin skin across her cheeks. “Yeah. Probably a good idea. Wasn’t nearly as good coming backup.”
“Blech.” Denise fakedgagging.
“Oh, please. I’ve held your hair back plenty oftimes.”
“True, but you don’t have anyhair.”
“Touché.” She closed her eyes. Denise worried she’d fallen asleep again, but her eyes fluttered open a few seconds later. “How’re thekids?”
“They’re good. I’ll bring ‘em by on Friday afterschool.”
Sarah shook her head. “No.”
Denise sighed. “Sarah.”
“I don’t want them to see me likethis.”
“I’m not going to let you distance yourself. They love you and miss you. Don’t shut themout.”
A tear spilled over her cheek. “I hate this,” she whispered. “It’s not how it’s supposed tobe.”
Unfolding from the chair, she sat on the edge of the bed and held Sarah’s frail hand between her palms. Sprocket raised her head, tuned into heremotions.
“They aren’t going to have me for very muchlonger.”
“I know, honey.” Denise kept her voice soft. “But you need to let them have you for as long as theycan.”
More tears escaped as Sarah squeezed her eyes closed, but she nodded. “I just…I want their memories of me to be good ones. Not from when I was sick anddying.”
“I’ll make sure they remember all the good things about you. Mom and Dad will, too. You don’t really think I’m going to hide all your horrible nineties high school fashion fails, doyou?”
She smiled. “Those were all your hand-me-downs.”
“Yeah, but they don’t knowthat.”
