Part 33 (1/2)

The nursery door was dosed.

She distinctly remembered leaving it open-she always left it open.

She glanced at Cal, but he was sound asleep, his position unchanged.

Then who had closed the door?

She pulled it open and stepped into the nursery, switching on the light as she pa.s.sed through the door. Mich.e.l.le was standing by Jennifer's crib. She looked up, her face puzzled, as the room filled with light.

”Mother?”

”Mich.e.l.le! What are you doing up?”

”I-I heard Jenny crying, and when I didn't hear you, I came in to see what was wrong.”

Mich.e.l.le carefully tucked the little pillow in her hands under Jennifer's head.

Her crying was m.u.f.fled!

The thought slashed through June's mind, but she immediately silenced it.

The door was closed, she told herself. That's why I couldn't hear her. The door was closed! That's why I couldn't hear her. The door was closed!

”Mich.e.l.le,” she said carefully. ”Did you close the door between here and our bedroom?”

”No.” Mich.e.l.le's voice was uncertain. ”It must have been closed when I came in. Maybe that's why you didn't hear Jenny.”

”Well, I suppose it doesn't matter.” But it did matter, and June knew it. Something was happening-something she didn't want to think about. She went over to the crib, and picked Jenny up. The baby was sleeping now, making little mewling sounds. As she picked her up, Jenny coughed a little, then relaxed in her mother's arms. June smiled at Mich.e.l.le. ”See? All it takes is a mother's loving arms.” She looked more closely at Mich.e.l.le. Her eyes were clear, and she didn't look as though she'd been asleep only a few minutes ago.”

”Couldn't you sleep, honey?”

”No. I was just talking to Amanda. Then Jenny started crying, so I came in here.”

”Well, let me get her settled, then we'll have a little talk, okay?”

Mich.e.l.le's eyes clouded over. For a moment June was afraid she was going to refuse. But then Mich.e.l.le shrugged. ”Okay.”

June tucked Jennifer back into the crib, then offered Mich.e.l.le her arm to lean on. ”Where's your cane?”

”I left it in my room.”

”Well, that's a good sign,” June said hopefully. But as they went down the hall, it seemed to her that Mich.e.l.le could barely walk. She said nothing, however, until Mich.e.l.le was settled in her bed, propped up against the pillows. ”Does it hurt badly?” She touched Mich.e.l.le's hip gently.

”Sometimes. Now. But sometimes not. When Amanda's around, it's better.”

”Amanda,” June repeated the name softly. ”Do you know who Amanda is?”

”Not really,” Mich.e.l.le said. ”But I think she used to live here.”

”When?”

”A long time ago.”

”Where does she live now?”

”I'm not sure. I guess she still lives here.”

”Mich.e.l.le-does Amanda want something?”

Mich.e.l.le nodded her head. ”She wants to see something. I'm not sure what it is, but it's something Amanda has to see. And I can show it to her.”

”You? How?”

”I-I don't know. But I know I can help her. And she's my friend, so I have have to help her, don't I?” to help her, don't I?”

It sounded to June like a plea for rea.s.surance. ”Of course you do,” she said. ”If she's truly your friend. But what if she's not your friend? What if she really wants to hurt you?”

”But she doesn't,” Mich.e.l.le said. ”I know she doesn't. Amanda would never hurt me. Never.” As June watched, her daughter's eyes closed, and she fell asleep.

June sat with her for a long time, holding her hand, and watching her sleep. Then, as the first faint light began burning through the darkness, June kissed Mich.e.l.le lightly and returned to bed.

She tried to sleep, but her thoughts, so carefully banished, came back to haunt her.

She hadn't heard Jenny cry because the door was closed.

But they never closed the door.

And Mich.e.l.le had been holding a pillow.

June left her bed once again, and went back into the nursery.

Carefully, she locked the door leading to the hall and put the key in the pocket of her robe.

Only then was she able to sleep, and she hated herself for it.

CHAPTER 25.

Sat.u.r.day morning.

On any ordinary Sat.u.r.day morning, June would have awakened slowly, stretched luxuriously, then rolled over and slid her arms around her husband.

But it had been a long time since she had done that, on Sat.u.r.day morning or any other morning.

On this Sat.u.r.day morning, she was wide awake, and tired.

She glanced at the clock-nine thirty.