Page 80 of Set In Stone

No. It can’tbe.

My heart began to beat rapidly in my chest. Justine began to speak, and I snapped my head up to look ather.

“She usually takes a nap around this time of day. The medication she’s on makes her a bit sleepy, but she’ll probably wake upsoon.”

As if they had a mind of their own, my legs began to move. I kept my gaze fixed on Justine, putting one foot in front of the other, until I was directly beside the bed. I stared at my sister for a moment longer before slowly turning my head to look at the woman in thebed.

She had a narrow nose and defined cheekbones. Just like mine and Justine’s. Age lines marred her face, the faint indents of crow’s feet extending to her temples. There was a horrific scar that spread from the right side of her forehead to the middle, outlining a slightly caved in depression. It was in the shape of an elongated U, its deep purplish-gray color revealing how bad the original wound must havebeen.

As I stared at the scar, a vision flashed before my eyes. It nearly blinded me and I staggered back. I knew that scar. I had seen the wound that caused it. My eyes burned from the pain that began to build behind them, a migraine of the sorts that I had never beforeexperienced.

Abruptly, it was as if I was thrown back in time, the hazy details of the day Hale showed up and found Justine and me with my father’s body suddenly becomingclear.

Someone is knockingon the door. I’m afraid to answer, but I hear Hale’svoice.

Hale is a soldier and it’s dumb to be afraid of a soldier. I should answer it. He could help me and Justine. She’s still acting funny and won’t eat all her food. Grandma would say it’swasteful.

I open thedoor.

“Hey, champ,” Hale says to me and messes my hair. “Where’s your mom? Your gran made banana bread, your mom’sfavorite.”

“Mommy’s not here,” I lie. I don’t want him to see her. He’ll tell grandpa about her face and then grandpa will call Mommy a fool. That makes hercry.

“Oh,” Hale says. He sounds surprised. “Do you know where sheis?”

I shake my head and look behind me. I see Justine down the hall going into her room. She’s hummingagain.

“Something happened to Justine, Hale. Can you talk to her forme?”

He looks past me. He’s too tall, and I can’t block his view. I don’t want him to look into the living room. He’ll see him if hedoes.

“Champ, what’s wrong? Where’s yourmom?”

He sounds afraid. Likeme.

Hale walks around me and comes into the house. My heart begins topound.

“Wait, no! Not in here. Justine’s room is this way,” I say and pull at hissleeve.

“Jesus fucking Christ!” he swears. Grandma won’t like hislanguage.

Hale starts running through the house. He’s calling for Mommy. I shake my head. I want to tell him that she can’t answer, but decide I want to eat grandma’s treat instead. It’s better than following Hale and seeing heragain.

“Justine,” I call out. “Hale is here. Grandma made banana bread. Come havesome.”

Justine comes out of her room, and we sit on the sofa. She hums and rocks back and forth as I unwrap the foil. We each share apiece.

I can hear Hale in the kitchen. He’s talking to someone. I think he’s on thephone.

I wonder who he’s talking to, but I try not to listen. I don’t want tolisten.

He comes back to the living room. He’s carrying a person. I know who it is, but I don’t look. I don’t want to see her face. It’s not prettyanymore.

“Alexander, I need you to do exactly as I say,” Hale says to me. “I’m going to take your mother to get help. I’ll be right back. Grandpa will be here soontoo.”

I look down at the floor. I see him still laying there and I feel angry. I look up at Hale, careful not to look at Mommy’s face when I do. I take another bite ofbread.

“Grandpa will be happy the lazy bastard is dead,” I say in betweenbites.

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