He looked shrunken, his black eyelashes stark against the paleness of his face. Even sleeping, she could see the strain in his expression as he battled the pain. Dash leaned in to kiss his cheek. He didn’t react.
“When is Dot coming? She must be devastated. She and Dad…” She didn’t need to say anything more. They both knew Dash’s sister and father were closer than anyone else.
“I imagine she will be all right eventually.”
Her mother’s hesitation made Dash’s skin itch. “You imagine?”
“She sent a telegram saying she can’t come home.”
“I don’t understand.”
“She isn’t allowed to leave her work.”
Dash drew back, aghast. “That’s ridiculous! There has to be a way. I mean, Dad is…” The words pounded against her skull.He’s dying.“Did you write back to her?”
“I only just heard from her this morning. I haven’t had an opportunity.” She glanced at the bed, then whispered, “She can’t, Margaret. That’s all there is to it. I wrote to Gus as well, but he hasn’t replied. It’s you and me now. And Uncle Bob and Aunt Lou, of course. They have been wonderful. They come every day. They’ll be here tonight.”
“Does Dot have a telephone we could call at least?”
“I was never told of one. I don’t know how to reach her except by sending letters, and it’s a central mailing address. I have no idea where she really is.”
In the living room by the front door, the grandfather clock gave a tiredBong! Bong! Bong!then returned to its endless counting. Endless, that is, if her mother remembered to wind it. The old clock had been her father’s responsibility, but now her mother would have to keep the time. What a weight to bear alone.
“Mom, please go and sleep in my bed for a while.”
Her mother looked startled. “Oh no, I couldn’t. What if he wakes up?”
“If he wakes up, he’ll see me. Let me take care of him for a bit. Please.”
Dash nearly cried fresh tears, seeing the gratitude in her mother’s eyes. She watched her go, then she studied her father’s sleeping face, wishing he would open his eyes. She needed to speak with him. She needed to hear his voice. If only she could make him laugh in that careful, measured way. If only she could walk through the kitchen and see him bent over a crossword puzzle with Dot, not looking old at all. Not in pain. How lucky Dot had been, to have spent so much of her time with him. To understand him the way she did. Dash had never felt envious of her sister until now.
All the years Dash had wasted. When her father and Dot had sat quietly together, she had chosen instead to play outside or go out with her friends. She’d never considered there might come a day when he wouldn’t be there. She needed to make up for so much lost time, but she didn’t know how much was left.
She felt suffocated in the dark room, so she opened the curtains to let the sunshine in. If he woke and it hurt his head, she would close them in a blink, but for now she needed the brightness of day. She needed a glimpse of the blue sky, laced like the curtains in thin white strands.
Was it true, what they said about people rising to heaven after they died? When Dash flew in the wide-open sky, above the birds and the cares of everyday people, there was so much quiet—outside of engine noise,that is. She felt alone up there, free, weightless, able to drift through the clouds, to bank on a sunbeam. The sky was Dash’s idea of heaven. If she died, she’d want to be up there. So she hoped it was true.
There was a softness to her father’s cheeks she had never noticed before. A thickness to his black hair, which was like hers, though his sparkled with silver strands. A fist twisted her heart as she realized that she would never know him as someone whose hair turned grey.
At last, those dark lashes lifted, and his eyes pulled into focus. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. They were already communicating. She might not have sat with him over puzzles or tapped Morse code with him for fun, but she knew that pale gaze all the way to her soul. Dot might be his twin in that sense, but Dash was just as much his daughter. She knew how much he loved her, because she had seen it in his expression since she could remember.
“Are you in pain?” she finally asked. Her mother had shown her where the pills were. They both hoped she wouldn’t have to give him any. Not for a bit.
“I’m all right for now.” His voice was raspy. “I am so happy to see you, Margaret.”
“I came as soon as I could,” she said, and her mind flew to her sister. “I wish Dot was here.”
“As do I,” he whispered on a breath, then he drifted back to sleep.
thirty-fiveDOT— Camp X —
Dot’s burning eyes took in the Gus she knew so well, needing to convince herself he was real. All her life, he’d been her protector, and here he was in her hour of need. He was regarding her with the same kind of wonder she felt rushing through her, then he seemed to come to his senses. He stepped forward and gathered her in his arms before either of them could say anything else. Only when she believed she could contain her emotions did she release him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, but he spoke at the same time.
“What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you cry before.”
She started to explain, but her words came quickly, too quickly.
