Page 37 of What Doesn't Kill Her

“The battery catches on fire.”

“Really?” Kellen switched it on. It was charged.

“Daddy said not to turn it on because the battery catches on fire.”

Kellen held it while the temperature began to climb, then switched it off. “I heard about this. Wasn’t there a recall?” She looked to Rae for an answer.

Rae peeled a cheese stick and held it out. “I guess. Can I have peanut butter?”

Rae clearly knew nothing about a recall, but if this thing caught on fire, it was like owning a time bomb and that was no end of useful. Kellen stuck the tablet in her bag. “There’s no more peanut butter.”

“I brought a jar of peanut butter!”

“I... Really?” Kellen delved into Rae’s bag and found an entire unopened jar of all-natural organic peanut butter rolling around at the bottom. She laughed in delight. “Dear Lord.” Was that swearing? “Heavens, this is the best news ever. Do you realize how much protein and energy is in a jar of peanut butter?”

Rae examined her as if she was slightly mad.

“I don’t suppose you brought a loaf of bread or some graham crackers, did you?”

“Why? Can I have a banana?”

Kellen almost said no. Then she remembered the battered banana she had packed, pulled it out, divided it in half and passed it to Rae. They ate it piled with peanut butter. Then Kellen loaded the broken computer tablet, Rae’s yellow blankie, Patrick and the cotton-caped princess into her backpack. “Did you bring any extra socks?”

Rae tilted her head and viewed Kellen as if she was crazy.

“Underwear? Clothes? Toothbrush?”

“My Halloween costume!” Rae leaped to her feet. “I’m going as Luna Lovegood!”

That explained the great mop of blond hair in the bag. Rae hadn’t scalped someone. She was channeling her inner Harry Potter.

Kellen noticed parenthood had suddenly created an odd conglomeration of thoughts in her brain, now, at a time when she needed to be thinking clearly. “Let me see your feet.”

Rae pulled off her rain boots and stuck her feet out. Somehow, by the grace of God and Grandma Verona, she wore sturdy athletic shoes and tall socks. “How do your feet feel?”

“Fine.” Rae looked bored.

“Did you bring any other shoes?”

“Yes! My Dorothy magic red sparkly shoes. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home!”

“You said it, kiddo.” That explained the red sequins tangled in the blond hair. “We’re going to hide your bag. We’ll hang your bag in a safe tree.” Kellen looked up from trying to pack Rae’s blankie into her backpack in time to see tears well up into Rae’s eyes. Rae opened her mouth to sob and Kellen said quickly, “We’ll come back for it.”

“Really?” Rae’s voice quavered.

“Really.” Kellen prepared to climb. “When I was a little girl, my father and mother died, and my uncle and aunt took me in. They were wonderful people, but I was little and they had to clean out my parents’ home. Some of the stuff they got rid of was... I missed it. My ugly baby doll with the hair I had chewed on. She was missing an eye, but I loved her. My comic book collection, and... I had my mother’s records from when she was little. They threw those away. I’m not trying to get rid of your precious things.”

Rae had fixated on one thing. “Your mother and father died? Oh, Mommy, I’m so sorry!” She reached out, all sticky fingers and peanut butter–smeared face, and hugged Kellen.

“It’s okay. It was a long time ago. I’m better now.” Rae looked so distressed, Kellen found her own voice shook. She was okay. She had been for a long time. But looking back, she knew the loss of her parents’ love and support left her so hungry for someone of her own, she’d fallen prey to an older man, a Prince Charming who dramatically transformed into a monster.

She looked down at Rae, at her child, and imagined Rae falling prey to someone like Gregory. Suddenly, fiercely, she hugged her back. “I won’t let anyone hurt you,” she promised.

“I know,” Rae said matter-of-factly. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, either.”

A childish promise made in all sincerity. Kellen quickly kissed the top of Rae’s head, embarrassed now at the display of affection, and yet...inside she felt warm and mushy. “I’ve got to...” She freed herself from Rae’s gummy embrace and hoisted herself into the lower branches of the Douglas fir. “See how this tree leans out over the bend of the creek? I can find it again.”

From below, she heard the crinkle of plastic and Rae’s voice saying, “That’s astonishing.”

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