Page 320 of Under Her Skin
“It would,” Mrs. Sanders says. “And that is a great idea. I could make sure my husband has something to do to keep him away from here. I have a very different opinion than he does. If it is time for our daughter to go home, then I will accept that. But I still have hope that she can beat this. I also think you need to hear what she has to tellyou.”
“Why don’t you tell her to tell you and you’ll make sure he gets the message?” I ask in an attempt to stop this insanity. Sanders could have Blaine put in jail for going into that room. I will do everything I can to stop Blaine from going inthere.
“I have, but she said she has to hold his hand and show him something. She also said Crystal will tell her what to say. She doesn’t know what it is yet. I think the Santa costume thing will work.” She looks down the hallway toward her daughter’s room. “I should get back to her. Please let me know when you’ll be able to get this plan underway, and I’ll make sure my husband is nowhere near here during thattime.”
“I will,” Blaine says, then I get him to move his feet and start pulling him away with me. “Maybe in a couple of days. I have to get thingstogether.”
“Come on, Blaine,” I say as I tug at him to hurry. “We have things todo.”
“Yes, we do. We have a lot of things to do. This will take some planning, and I think five sets of Santa’s and elves will do. Some of my employees can help out withthat.”
“You can’t possibly be serious about doing that,” I say, then push open Terry’sdoor.
“Oh, I am very serious. I have a chance to talk to my mother. I know that sounds crazy and I shouldn’t believe it, but something is telling me it’strue.”
Something is telling me it’snot!
Chapter3
BLAINE
When that woman said my mother’s name, chills ran through me. I wanted to run down the hall and into that little girl’s room more than I’ve ever wanted anything in mylife.
We saw the parents of the kids I visited with today and all of them said they would attend the meeting Sanders is having this evening. They said they’d sing mypraises.
As I sit in the back of the Suburban with Delaney, I find myself feeling very empathetic for the man who has it in his head that if his daughter talks to me, she’ll die.No wonder he’s acting socrazy.
Taking Delaney’s hand, I lift it up and place a kiss on top of it. “If that was our little girl having to deal with everything Meagan’s having to, I might act the same damn way her fatheris.”
“You wouldn’t go after an innocent person, Blaine. You’re not like him,” she tells me, then leans into my side and places her hand on my chest. “And what’s this talk about ourkids?”
“I think you’ll be a great mother. What do you think about me?” I ask as I run my hand through herhair.
Her eyes shine as she looks up at me. “I think you’ll be great at whatever you do. I also think you have it in your head that little girl will tell you something to make you believe in something, and I want you to know, that’s alongshot.”
“It’s a shot I have to take, Delaney. You have no idea how much I felt when that woman said my mother’s name. It was like lightning went right through me. What if she can help me believe in something?” I ask as I hold her eventighter.
The way she’s looking at me has me thinking she doesn’t believe in this kind of thing. With a nod of her head, she says, “I guess if she can help you, that’d be great. God knows you need some help in that department. But what if what she says only throws you further into thefray?”
“The fray?” I ask, as I have no idea what she’s talkingabout.
“The place where you dangle between worlds. Not quite a believer, but not quite not. I think you’re closer to the believing side right now. If she says things you don’t understand or things that make you think it’s all made up or just plain wrong, then I see it hurtingyou.”
“She’s only a little girl. I don’t expect much, baby. I just need to do this. I really do need it.” Mr. Green pulls into the driveway of the estate, taking us back home for the evening, and I start thinking about the phone calls I need to make to get thingsgoing.
As we pull all the way up to the house, I see my brother’s car, and he and my sister are sitting inside of it. “Who’s this?” Delaney asks as westop.
“Kent and Kate.” I get out of the car and help her out too. My sister and brother get out too and meet us at the frontdoor.
“Hey, Blaine,” Kate says, then smiles at the woman under my arm. “Delaney, how are you thisevening?”
“I’m just fine. Blaine didn’t tell me you guys were coming out here. What a nice surprise,” she says as she moves away from me and hugs mysister.
I lead everyone into the house, where we’re met by the housekeeper. “Evening, Vanderbilts. Do we have guests fordinner?”
Delaney takes Kate’s hand. “Please tell me you two will join us for dinner thisevening.”
“Sure, if Blaine’s okay with that,” she says as she looks myway.
