Page 25 (1/2)

The despair in his voice softened her anger She looked helplessly at the baby, knowing that she had to try Knohat it would do to her and that she

She wasn’t even sure she could do it

Her voice cracked Emotion and dread knotted in her throat "You should know that I’m not certain I can do this I haven’t been able to connect to my sister since…all this happened I haven’t tried to heal I don’t know if I can do it any said in a soft voice "All we ask is that you try"

Grace glanced around at all the curious spectators Unease crawled over her Did they all knohat it was Browning was asking her to do? She glanced sharply at him

He shook his head "I’ve only told them you were a physician and that you specialized in matters like this They don’t knohat you can do Ibastard, but I wouldn’t have exposed you like that"

"I’ll want privacy," she said

"Then you’ll do it?"

The instant hope in his voice was crushing Sumathi’s eyes lit up and tears swamped her vision

"Thank you," Sumathi whispered "May God bless you for the rest of your days"

How to tell this woht well be here and that she could well be trading her life for this child’s? But as she stared down at that tiny life, so weak and barely fighting, Grace knew she couldn’t turn her back She couldn’t walk away no matter what it did to her This child was innocent She deserved a chance to grow up and be someone extraordinary

Maybe her purpose was to save this child

"Co her toward a distant hut

"Why are they here?" Grace demanded "Why aren’t they with you in the US, where they can be taken care of?"

Browning sighed "I didn’t know of Sunancy We met between missions, when I was here with Rio The next time I was able to see her was for just a fewRio’s place as a safe house I came to see her this time because I wanted her to come back with me to the US I wanted to buy her a house so we could be a family I’ve missed so much of Ana’s childhood already and she’s just an infant Maybe…Maybe if I’d been here sooner, I could have done so Taken her to doctors in the US But noe’re out of time and you’re our only hope"

Grace closed her eyes It was a familiar story She was someone’s only hope Who was supposed to be hers?

When they reached the hut, Grace stepped inside and Browning ca the door Su Ana as she stared hopefully at Grace

"You knohat this does to me," Grace said in a low voice "You can’t just leave me here I’ll be completely helpless"

"Whatever you may think of me, I would never just leave you Rio will knohere to find you"

It was only a small consolation She was still riddled with fear and uncertainty She warred with the consequences Before she wouldn’t have hesitated She’d been so depleted, so broken, she would have chosen to give this baby her life at the expense of her own in a heartbeat

But things were different now Weren owsee19;t they?

So to be part of her life

But then she stared at Sumathi’s tearstained face and saw ain the nearly black depths How could she live with herself if she sentenced this baby to die in her mother’s arms?

She would be no better than theher to nation

Sumathi hurried over and readily relinquished the baby into Grace’s arms Grace sank to the floor on her knees and then positioned the baby so she’d be warm and comfortable

She was so listless As if she’d already given up the fight

Grace reached out to her, hoping to find a connection Sheas she kne Closing her eyes, she narrowed her focus to nothing but this baby in front of her She blocked out her surroundings, the distant noises, even the worried parents who loomed over her

The pathas so feeble that Grace aln of life, and she knew that indeed it was nearly too late for this little one

As soon as she was able to feel the pathway, she then concentrated on drawing away the weakness, the faint darkness that seemed to surround the baby’s soul Death had come for her and it was up to Grace to deny it

Even the smell of death hovered close by Grace drew it into herself, pulling all the blackness away froeoodness that had seemed so distant to Grace until the last few days

She drew on the strength that Rio had given her The will to live that he’d inspired And she gave it to this child

Weakness invaded her body Shedown relentlessly Despair tugged at her, sucking her i

nto a black hole she’d sworn she’d never return to

She wobbled and felt Browning hold her up, supporting her as she sluth even to hold up her head

She was no longer herself, but this tiny baby barely clinging to life She was cognizant of the need to break away and suth to sever the connection betoman and child

A lusty cry split the air and Suasped in wonder Grace stared dully down at the baby, who now kicked and threw her ar to be fed that instant Her color was better and she no longer looked as if death inning the battle

But as she glanced up at Browning and saw the paleness of his face and the horror in his eyes, she knew that death had found a new victim

CHAPTER 26