“Lorie?”Loren murmured.
I pressed tighter to his side, overwhelmed by this.
The doctor had said we needed to be patient.That Maxinewould respond to stability, begin to sense she was loved and being lookedafter, and then she would blossom.That the more she was around the people withwhom she’d be sharing her life, even if she wasn’t directly interacting withthem, the more comfortable she would be, and the more she would come out of hershell.
Loren hadn’t been around that much, but he was around.
Thus, it seemed the doc knew what he was talking about.
“Yes, my darling girl,” Mary responded.
“She’s mysister!”Maxine exclaimed excitedly.
Oh shit.
I was going to cry.
Loren dropped my hand and wrapped his arm around me.
“Indeed, she is, my dear,” Aunt Mary replied.
But her voice was weird.
This made me focus on her.
She was now gazing up the steps to where Mom was standing,Carling (as ever) hovering at her shoulder.
Oh shit times two.
I was about to hustle forward in an effort to continuerunning interference.
But Mom floated gracefully down the steps, took Mary by thearms, bent to touch cheek one, then cheek two, and kept hold of her as shepulled back.
“Mary,” she whispered.
“I am…quite…overwhelmed.”Aunt Mary’s voice was husky.
Andagain, I was going to cry.
I turned into Loren and pushed close.
“Let’s get you inside.There’s much to share,” Mom said.
Oh boy.
But Mary’s hand darted up, she pressed her fingers to Mom’smouth, Mom’s eyes crossed to look at them, I nearly let out a hysterical laugh,and Mary spoke.
“We shan’t speak of it.Ever.It’sunspeakable.It is good I’ve arrived, Corliss.I will be your shield.There isn’t a memberof the peerage who would cross me.The deeds have been done.The stories havebeen told to the proper authorities.They never need be uttered again.And thatis behind us.”
Okay, seriously.
Everything just…
Fell into place.
I mean, maybe Mom was right.
With the way things kept happening, it felt like we weresupposed to be here.
