Page 87 of Among the Innocent

Marge patted Leah’s arm. “I don’t know how I would have survived this year without you, Leah. I miss him so much.”

“Me too.”

“Did I tell you that Ellis and I met around this time of the year?”

Leah couldn’t remember her mom ever talking about how she and Ellis met. “You did? Where were you living?”

Marge had a dreamy look on her face as if she were remembering that time. “In Wyoming.”

Right away, Leah’s attention piqued. “Really? Where in Wyoming?”

Marge’s brows furrowed. “I-I don’t remember.”

As much as she wanted to press for answers, she knew her mother was exhausted and needed rest above everything else.

“He was such a handsome man in his uniform. I fell in love with him from the start.”

Leah didn’t say a word, just patiently waited for her mom to continue.

“He asked me to marry him. I was thrilled.” She hesitated as if she weren’t sure about the memory. “But I loved him, and we had so many happy years together.” Tears slipped from her eyes. “Now he’s gone, and I don’t know what I’ll do without him. How am I supposed to keep going without my husband?” She turned troubled eyes to Leah.

“You have me—we have each other. It will be okay.”

“You want me to see my doctor?” Marge appeared to read Leah’s thoughts.

“I do. We need to have your medication checked. If it would make it easier for you, I can ask him to come here.”

“But what if I’m getting worse? What if ...?” She didn’t finish.

“Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.”

Marge searched her face. “You promise you won’t leave me?”

“Never. I love you.”

Marge slowly smiled. “You are such a good girl. The day Ellis brought you home, I knew you were different from—” She stopped and frowned.

“Different from what?” Leah asked.

“Than any other child around.” Marge heaved a sigh and closed her eyes. “Stay with me until I fall asleep?”

“Of course.” Leah settled back against the headboard and peered around the room that was filled with memories. She’d come here when the nightmares became too bad to deal with alone. Marge would tuck her in close and she felt safe. Her mom and Ellis had pulled her from the darkness. Though she still wore the scars from that time, she couldn’t imagine her life without this woman.

When Marge’s breathing steadied, Leah gently slipped her arm free and rose.

Was it possible in Marge’s tangled thoughts she’d created a child to help deal with Ellis’s death?

Leah tiptoed to the door and glanced back at the woman sleeping peacefully in her bed, and her heart clenched. She was losing her mom to an illness that wasn’t only claiming her physical health but was slowly eating away at the memories Marge held precious.

“We should go.” Dalton hated having to pull her away from her mother, but it was almost eleven.

Since coming downstairs, Leah had been quiet. She appeared sad. He couldn’t imagine what she was going through with her mom.

She slowly rousted herself as they prepared to leave.

“Don’t worry about Marge,” Ethan told her. “I’ll check in on her periodically. Rest will do her a world of good—you’ll see.”

Leah squeezed his arm, and then she and Dalton headed outside.

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