“Shhhh,” Megan whispered. They both looked around to find that her eyes were open and pleading. “Don’t argue.”
“We always argue,” Susan reminded her gently.
“But don’t do it today.”
“Why should today be different?”
“It’s your birthday. You should be celebrating.”
“We’ll celebrate when we’re done arguing. We’re going to Boston.”
Savannah leaned closer to Megan and whispered conspiratorially, “If we smuggle in some clothes, will you come with us? You’ve helped us make it through lots of birthdays. We need you now.”
“Not a bad idea,” Susan decided. “We could use a buffer. You’ve always been that.”
But Megan was shaking her head.
“Not today?” Savannah asked.
“No.”
“Another time?”
Megan shrugged.
“We could go to the island,” Savannah suggested. “The three of us, just like we used to do. Those were fun times, weren’t they, Meggie?”
“We were young and innocent,” Megan said sadly.
“Maybe you two were innocent,” Susan interjected, “but not me. I haven’t been innocent since I was fifteen, and that was before we ever went to the island together.”
“Still, it’d be fun to go back,” Savannah said.
“It would.”
Expectantly they turned to Megan, but she’d turned her head away. They exchanged a look, then Savannah asked softly, “Can we get you anything in Boston?”
Megan shook her head.
“Are you sure?” Susan asked.
Megan nodded.
Savannah covered her hand, which lay limply on the sheet. “Can I stop in again tomorrow?”
“I’m going home tomorrow,” Megan said tonelessly.
“That’s great!”
“Good news!”
Megan didn’t respond to their enthusiasm.
“Then we’ll see you there,” Savannah said. She leaned down and kissed Megan’s cheek. “Take care, y’hear?”
Susan, too, kissed her. Will walked them to the elevator.
“She responds more to you two than to anyone,” he said. “I sometimes wonder why I’m there. I think I make things worse.”
