Page 150 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

Did you”—he stammered over the words—“want to move
back down there? It’s still going to be chilly for another
month or two.”
Ash and Greta looked at each other for a second. “Nah,”
Ash said.
Greta paused. They could be back in their own space
again—no dresser shoved against the door or old man legs.
Still, when her body was calm, she felt, in some inexplicable

way, safe with Elgin. His slow shuffling around his plants, or
puttering in the kitchen, dreaming of an alternate universe
where his wife was still alive. And just to have someone to
care if they’d eaten supper or were warm enough at night.
She looked from Ash to Elgin. “I think we’re good here, if it’s
okay with you.”
“All settled then.” Elgin nodded and closed the door ADVANCE READING COPY

behind him.

W

The next morning rocks tumbled in her belly, but they didn’t
crush her. Ash hovered like she might fall over.
In social studies, Greta sat right in front of Angus, the
force of Ash at her side erasing Angus completely. She silently
dared him to say something. She didn’t even have to look at

Ash—she felt him. Solid. Like that night, abandoned at the
cabin.
She’d shuffled backward, looking in the direction Rachel
had gone, afraid to miss their return, stumbling over the

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