Page 76 of Savage Beauty

“Sloane. Honey. Why are you crying?”

“Max thinks I lied to him. But I didn’t. I lied to you, and I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have, but they told me it was best for you.”

“It’s okay. I know you’ll always do what you think is best for me.”

“I will. I love you Sagey.”

“I love you too, Sloaney. Whatever is wrong, it’s going to work out. I’m glad you called me.”

“But you’re at work and it’s not scheduled?—”

“Sloane, if I can’t answer, I won’t pick up. But your calls are always welcome. You hear me? I’d talk to you every day if you were up for it.”

“Really?” More tears tumble down. It’s just…wow. Maybe I’m ovulating. This level of emotion is not a normal reaction. Other people do not react like this.

“Really. And I’ll ask Knox to talk to Max. We’ll find out what he’s upset about. I can’t imagine he thinks you lied to him.”

“It doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“No. It doesn’t.” A loud screech pierces the line, and Sage, in her teacher voice, says, “Maddox…you know the rules. No jumping from the top of the monkey bars.”

“I don’t know how you deal with loud children who don’t listen.”

She laughs and I sniffle. “That’s…they aren’t… Ah, Sloane, now may not be the best time to tell you, but I have news.”

“Oh?” I sniffle. Changing the subject is good. What’s going on in my head is not.

“I’m engaged!”

“To who?”

“Knox!”

Oh, right. Of course. Knox. Max said they were in love. “Are you happy?”

“Sloane, I’ve never been happier. I’ve been so eager to tell you. I’m so glad you called.”

“I’m happy for you. You know, I only want you to be happy.”

“I met with my cardiologist. He says there’s no reason I can’t have a child.”

I close my eyelids and breathe in. Count to three. Why would she take that risk?

I don’t understand it, but I don’t have to understand everything. That’s what Mom said.

“Adoption is always an option.” We’ve been telling her that since she was a kid and asked an adult if one day she could have kids. “There are many types of families and not all parents are biological ones.” I say it in the same voice I used to read to her in.

“I know, and I can’t really explain it, but I just want to have a child. It will feel like maybe all I’ve gone through will be worth it if I can give someone else life.” She’s referencing that someone else lost a life to give her organs. I know this because it’s bothered Sage for years. But that person was already dead. It’s not like she killed them.

My gaze rises to the ceiling. Sage is all I have. Why would she risk her life? “You don’t have to have children for your life to have value.”

“I know that.”

“Sage, you’re my everything. How can you not see how valuable you are?” And again those damn tears flood and my snot secretions increase.

“Sloane.” She says my name with a sigh. “I love you, too. Please try to understand why I want this. Why it means so much to me.”

“The doctor said it’s okay?”

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