Page 98 of Amnesty

She beamed. That made the small lie okay, didn’t it? The fact it made her happy.

“You ladies are straight from the hospital?” I asked, leading them over toward the front counter where I set my first cup of joe underneath.

“Yes, on the way home,” Maggie said.

I glanced at her quickly, then away. This wasn’t something Am and I had talked about. The fact they were going to be under the same roof. She still hadn’t gone back to the hospital since that memory. She remained adamant about not wanting to see Sadie, and now she was going to be living with her.

Maggie’s eyes flashed with apology, but I understood her position. There was no need for regret.

She was caught between the two women just as I. Stuck trying not to favor one over the other, being tugged in both directions, and knowing eventually, something would snap.

I thought vaguely of offering to take Sadie home with me because it would give Am the space I knew she needed. But if I did that, what message would it send?

“I’m going to be making a special dinner tonight,” Maggie told me, picking up a basket near the counter. “I hope you’ll join us.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I said.

Sadie beamed, came to my side, and slipped her hand in mine.

“I’m going to get a few things for the meal tonight. Sadie, would you like to help?”

Sadie shook her head, sidling closer to me. “I was hoping Eddie would give me a tour. I want to see what’s changed.”

“Of course.” I agreed.

“I won’t be long,” Maggie said and went off in search of her ingredients.

“What do you want to see first?” I looked down at Sadie.

She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”

“How about all the merchandise we sell now? You can pick a T-shirt.” With her hand in mine, I led her across the store toward the merch section near the bathroom. “I designed all this stuff myself.”

“You did?” she asked, glancing over it all. Her fingers caressed one of the dark-blue shirts with the words “Lake Loch” on the front.

I nodded. “I had fun with it.”

The words, though innocent, were like a knife in me. “I’m sorry.” My voice was rough and low.

She perked up, focusing on me. “For what?”

Rubbing a hand over my face, I moaned. “Because that seemed insensitive. To say I had fun doing something while you were out there being…”

Sadie grabbed my other hand, turning so we were facing each other. “Don’t be sorry about that,” she whispered.

“I am,” I rebutted

“I wanted to call you this morning. The doctor wouldn’t let me.”

Alarm pushed back my sorrow. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

She smiled softly. “You always worry about me.”

“Always.” I agreed.

“Everything’s fine. They let me out, didn’t they?” She glanced away. I saw the ghosts in her eyes. They were hidden when she looked back up. “I want to stay with you, not Maggie.”

I swallowed thickly. “The doctor said that’s not a good idea.”

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