Page 60 of Healer
“Distasteful?” Tarook suggested an alternative with a cock of his brow.
“Fucking awful,” Daicon snorted, making us all dissolve into laughter.
Personally, I didn’t care if the food tasted like a pile of rotting Kerzak droppings. The only thing that mattered was celebrating Agnes’ happiness, health, and that she finally was officially mine.
Chapter - 20 Agnes
The joyful comments regarding my return morphed into scolding in the time it took me to draw breath.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us you were sick!” Emmy’s tone sounded prosecutorial, which was no surprise since she’d spent most of her career as a district attorney.
“We would have been there for you.” Clara squeezed my hand tightly, her hazel eyes shimmering.
“Which is precisely why I didn’t tell you.” I covered Clara’s hand with my own and returned the squeeze.
“What do you mean?” Daisy sniffled. She seemed to take the concealment of my disease as a personal affront. Of course she did... Daisy was all heart.
I sighed. A deep, heavy sound that echoed through my heart. “I’m a doctor. I knew what my prognosis was... knew what taking care of me would be like. I didn’t want to burden you with it... any of you.”
Emmy laid her hands on my shoulders, turning me slightly so she could gaze into my eyes as she spoke.
“We’re family. It wouldn’t have been a burden.”
Clara’s gaze focused on the hairline white scar decorating the underside of my forearm. A memory tickled, the recollection of the blade slicing into my skin haunting but not painful.
“It breaks my heart what those bastards did to you,” Clara sniffled, wiping her runny nose.
“What the Ulkommanian did—that wasn’t so bad,” I bluffed. “As you no doubt noticed, ALS is much worse. I wouldn’t have survived much longer if Hakkar hadn’t cured me.”
“Thank God he did,” Emmy said with a covert swipe at her eyes. She didn’t like to cry.
“Thank God for Hakkar,” I echoed, and meant it in more ways than one.
Daisy sniffed loudly before squaring her shoulders and giving me her best reproachful glare. “From now on... no more hiding bad stuff from each other. Like Emmy said... we’re family.”
“Family,” Clara mimicked.
“Family,” Agnes agreed.
The next thing I knew, we’d dissolved into a group hug accompanied by a chorus of sniffles and giggles.
Clara eyed me curiously as we broke apart, and I tried to corral the wetness smearing my cheeks.
“You look happy.”
“I am,” I admitted and couldn’t help the glance I stole in Hakkar’s direction.
“Oh, I get it,” Emmy snorted with a bawdy wink. “We all get it.”
“In more ways than one,” Clara agreed with a giggle. “When we saw that bright light on the Appalachian Trail... did you ever think for one second that we’d end up like this?”
“Never!” Our voices rose in unison, along with our laughter.
“Where are Pearl and Willa?” As happy as I felt to be reunited, we weren’t complete.
“Hopefully close to being with us again.” Emmy shifted, drawing her feet under her, a faint furrow creasing her brow. “We know where they are. It’s just a matter of being able to rescue them without anyone getting hurt. Jutuk, the Bardaga’snavigator, tracked Pearl to the Ardeese Valout space station. Some Baron purchased her and as near as we can tell, she works in the kitchen for him. Khaion says the Baron is throwing a grand dinner for Duke Ako’s birthday in a few days, and it will be the perfect cover for Jutuk stealing Pearl away.”
“Pearl in a kitchen,” I giggle-snorted. “She may not want to be rescued.”
