A Child's Wish

“Who said you were?” her mother asked. “I’ve been living with your uniqueness your whole life, Meredith Ann Foster. I recognize the signs.”

“Me, too,” Susan said softly.

That was all the encouragement she needed. “Go get Mark.”

“WHAT’S GOING ON?” Meredith didn’t know how much time had passed, but it was too long.

People were streaming along the hallway behind Mark, staring at her. “Is the meeting over?”

“Yes,” her mother said. “Just ended.”

“What’s up?” Mark asked again, loosening his tie. She could feel him staring at her. And in spite of the past week, in spite of his anger and disbelief, she needed his strength if she was going to get through this.

Kelsey needed his cooperation.

She looked him straight in the eye. “Kelsey’s in danger.”

“What?” he said, glancing away from her to take in her mother and Susan. “You’re upset about the vote, I understand that, but you can appeal. We will appeal. You have ten days to file a petition for a trial in Washington County District Court. This isn’t over.”

“Mark,” Meredith said, bending over against the pain in her stomach. “Kelsey’s in danger!”

She could feel heads turn in her direction and they didn’t matter at all. Nothing mattered but the little girl calling out to her.

Mark’s gaze met hers, and she calmed. “Kelsey’s at home with a sitter,” he said. “She’s fine.”

Shaking her head, Meredith tersely said, “Call.” And held her stomach while Mark pulled out his cell phone and did so.

Her mother was flying back to Florida first thing the next morning. She had an appointment with her primary care physician to confirm the liver results. Meredith wanted to go home with her. To be cradled in her mother’s arms.

She could hear Mark on the phone, composed at first, asking the sitter to double-check Kelsey’s room and make sure she was asleep. And then more caustically demanding that she check the bathroom, if the little girl wasn’t in her bed.

Two minutes later he hung up the phone, his face ashen.

“She’s gone.”

MARK NEEDED TO GET out of there fast. To beat up everyone in his path. He needed to scream. And to cry. Feeling more helpless than he’d ever felt in his entire life, he stood in the hallway of the city building and looked at Meredith Foster.

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

He wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake her senseless. And he wanted to hold on to her until his sanity returned. His daughter, his life’s blood, was missing.

Meredith had warned him.

She was his salvation. It made no sense.

Almost doubled over, leaning against the wall, Meredith grabbed his hand.

“Help me.” His plea was all he had left.

“We have to find Josie,” she said. “Do you know where she lives?”

“Yes, of course.” Mark rattled off the address.

“Come on, I’ll drive you,” Evelyn said.