Page 13 (1/2)

She was breathing hard, sucking in air that never sees She shook soto, she remeathered around her They’d issued a state she’d collapsed froht be crazy

Because she knew the panic was all in her head That she was doing it to herself If she couldn’t fix that, wasn’t she, by definition, insane?

"Play," A the fear and the way her chest see and the knowledge that she had lost this forever, she put her fingers on the keys

So for a child

She began to play one of Bach’s lullabies The melody flowed from her with an ease that astonished her She remembered every note and never stu the hard on the piano

Tears burned in Claire’s eyes She’dEven when she hated it , the piano was a part of who she was

She played and played, losing herself in the sound, safe with her audience of one--a child who could only feel the le note

CHAPTER EIGHT

CLAIRE HOVERED by the oven, practically dancing with impatience as the tied, she opened the oven and pulled out the roasting pan

At first glance, everything looked all right The chicken was golden-broithout being burned The rosereatShe set the pan on the hot pads she’d already put in place, then pushed the meat thermometer into the breast It read "done for poultry" Next she used a knife to break the skin by the leg and stared at the juices pouring out They were clear At least they looked clear to her, but as this was her first chicken, she couldn’t be sure

The last, andinto the chicken Claire braced herself for disappointment, then peeled back the skin and sliced into the breast

It was cooked, but still juicy She took a bite Perfect!

"I did it," she hummed to herself "I did it Yay ed to buy it and clean it and bake it and have it turn out A

She opened the second oven and pulled out a casserole dish of scalloped potatoes She wasn’t going to take as much credit for those because they’d coood Last, she checked on the steaot out a plate for Nicole But before she could fill it, she heard a noise in the hallway She looked up and saw her sister sloalking into the kitchen

"I got tired of living in one room," Nicole said as she pressed one hand to herto eat down here, if that’s all right"

"Of course it is Hoere the stairs?"

"Challenging I’ll be very slow going back up Dinner sood"

Claire was both proud and nervous "I baked a chicken"

"Impressive"

Claire looked at her, not sure if the coave her a brief smile

"I mean it You said you didn’t kno to cook Now you’re ht You didn’t have to do that So thank you"

"You’re welcome"

She hurried to set the table, then put the food out Nicole sat in one of the chairs and continued to press her hand against her stomach

"Do you want a painkiller?" Claire asked

"No, I’et better in a minute"

Claire served both of the Nicole her dinner, so with her, so in the kitchen like regular people She wasn’t sure what to say

"I brought home a couple of slices of chocolate cake," she said "I’ a bakery," Nicole told her "You never have to worry about that kind of thing"

Claire nodded and cut into her chicken Silence stretched between the buzzeddrinker One glass and she was happy--two and she was on the road to loopy She struggled frantically to find a topic of conversation

"It’s been nice being in one place," she said "I really like Seattle Do you enjoy living here?"

Nicole stared at her for a second "It’s my home I’ve never lived anywhere else I don’t have uess New York is h I don’t spend a lot of time there I have an apartment It was difficult to find one that would acco day was a nightmare The piano barely fit in the service elevator, so that took hours I don’t think I can ever move It would be too reen beans "I was in New York a few years ago I ith Drew We saw a couple of plays and went shopping I don’t know if I would want to live in a city that big"

Claire kept chewing because it would be rude to spit out the chicken, but the flavor was gone and when she finally sed, she was afraid it was going to get stuck in her throat and choke her

Nicole had come to New York and never called? Claire supposed she shouldn’t be surprised, but she was Surprised and hurt and feeling ottrip"

"Sounds nice"