was anything she could do. She couldn’t ignore it. What if it knew what she was thinking? Oh, the agony. Plus Dylan wanted to her to have the baby with him. She didn’t know if he was ready for it. He seemed quite skittish when she mentioned it. Pennie made it back to the apartment in one piece, but Dylan wasn’t home yet.
“Mom am I that much of a burden to you?” Pennie heard her daughter Carly again. She was running the water for the bath. Pennie got into the bathtub and started rinsing the day off of her. She had lit a sage and lavender incense to calm herself.
“You are not a burden at all. I am just figuring out if this is imagination or reality. I feel so lost.”
“Mother, I wish I were there to help you and hold your hand.”
“That is sweet. Oh, I had such a rough day.” Pennie grabbed the soap bar and started to clean herself.
“I watched from inside you.”
“You saw the girl then?” Pennie felt happy as the water flowed all over her body.
“I saw her. Her face was almost not even recognizable from her picture. It was more grey than blue.”
“I am sorry you had to see that, Carly.”
“I am learning more and more about the world. Are there lots more bad people out there than good?”
“Yes, dear.”
“Am I bad or good?” Pennie laughed.
“I really am not sure.”
“Is it because you haven’t met me yet?”
“Sure, I suppose.” Pennie smelled the calm aroma of the lavender and sage incense burning.
“Wow mom that smells good. What is it?” Pennie thought it was interesting how Carly could smell the incense.
“Certainly does. It’s lavender and sage. They are herbs.”
“What are herbs?”
“Plants that Mother Nature gives us to chop up and put into food. They have many other uses as well.”
“Wow.”
“Yes, maybe I will eat something with herbs and spices in it for you.”
“Sounds fishy.” Pennie chuckled. She was really beginning to like her daughter.
“Do you want to meet me?” Carly asked in a sweet childish voice. Pennie stopped shampooing her hair.
“Of course I do! Don’t be silly.”
“I am just getting the impression you don’t want to.”
“No, in fact Carly you remind me of myself. Always so fascinated and curious.”
“I love you mom.”
“I love you too.” Pennie dried herself off giggling. Her conversation with Carly had been intriguing. The more Pennie talked to her, the more she liked her. Her phone rang from the other room. Pennie wrapped the towel around her and hurried over to the table by the bed.
“Hello?” Pennie asked cautiously.
“Is this Miss Pennie Apples?” A man asked on the other line.
“Yes, who is this I am speaking with?”
“This is Detective Luis Hernandez with the Los Angeles police department…” Pennie’s face went white.
“Why are you calling?” she asked
“Miss Apples, you are the girlfriend of Dylan Plummer, correct?” Pennie’s face got even whiter.
“Something happened to him? Did something happen to him?” Pennie asked urgently.
“He is gone. There was a chase. Bullets were flying. I am so sorry, Miss Apples.”
Pennie dropped to her knees. The phone slipped out of her hands. Her eyes started getting moist. No, no, not Dylan. Why Dylan? She had just talked with him that morning. Oh why now? Dylan. Pennie had to see for herself if he was truly dead. Maybe it was just an accident. Maybe he was grazed. No, can’t be Dylan. Won’t be Dylan. Pennie shook her head. She cried into her hands.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Mary Sage Nguyen is the author of The Malevolent Twin and Uriel’s Absolution. She is the youngest daughter of Vietnamese and Chinese immigrants. Vietnamese was the language spoken at home, so the only way she was able to learn English was through the public school system. Even though English was not spoken at home, Mary became an avid reader as a young child and always dreamed of being a writer someday.
You can keep in contact with her through her website:
www.marysagenguyen.com
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