Page 34 (1/2)

T

80

81

She rolled onto her sto

A quiet rat-ta-ta-tat roused her

Blinking, bleary-eyed, she crawled to a sit and looked around, trying to find the source of the noise "Ian?" She said his nae of hope

The doorknob turned, the door opened

The fat wo a silver tray filled with steaers behind her The fragile-looking woirl who sucked her finger Thuirl who sucked her thumb

Edith made a qu

iet tsking sound "Poor thing 'Tisn't your fault you're feebleminded"

Selena sniffed and wiped her runny nose on her sleeve She got to her feet and h her dazed mind, formed themselves into blurry sentences, questions "Why?" was the only word that made it past her lips

The rosy color seeped out of Edith's fleshy cheeks She paused, her kind eyes fixed on Selena "I can't answer that for ye, lassie 'Tis God's way to make some people sick"

The red-haired woman walked toward her "Selena?" Her voice was lovely and lyrical,than spoken

Selena tried to ask the woroaned in frustration She couldn't do it, couldn't find the right words to express her thoughts

"Maeve" The woman answered the question Selena had meant to ask When Maeve reached Selena, she slipped her s squeeze The touch was soothing "I understand"