Page 22 (1/2)

Nina knew then: her promise couldn’t be kept, no et to know her mother There never had been

Five

Meredith threw back the covers and got out of bed Reaching for the robe on her bathroo in the mirror Reflective surfaces would not be her friend today

The s were ju, and a television was on somewhere Meredith sain

Downstairs, she found Jillian in the kitchen, setting the table The dogs were positioned beside her, waiting for breakfast scraps

“Dad told me to let you sleep,” Jillian said

“Thanks,” Meredith said “Where’s your sister?”

“Still in bed ”

Jeff handed Meredith a cup of coffee “You okay?” he asked quietly

“Rough night,” she said, looking at him above the rim of her cup The fairy tale had stirred up a lot of old emotions, and that, combined with her worry about her dad’s weakness, had caused a restless night “Did I keep you awake?”

“No ”

She remembered hoined they used to sleep Lately, they slept far enough apart that one’s restless night didn’t affect the other

“Moo see Grandpa and Baba again this ?”

Meredith reached past Jeff to the stack of buttered toast on the counter Tearing off a tiny piece, she said, “I’o now Why don’t you all come after breakfast?”

Jeff nodded “We’ll take the dogs for a walk and be right down ”