I hesitated a long moment. Her disorientation made me more certain that Stephen had given her drugs. “You don’t remember what happened to Lucy this afternoon?” I asked softly. “Lucy’s gone, sweetheart. She died in your arms.”
Her mouth rounded in a silent “No.” Then tears filled her eyes and started to trace small waterfalls down her cheeks. “I thought it was a bad dream,” she got out, half-choking. “I was hoping it was just a bad dream.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. I reached out my hand for her to hold, but I don’t think she noticed, and I let it fall away. I was glad that she had at least been able to enjoy her dinner before she remembered. “My husband found a very nice spot for her grave on the mountain, behind the house. You’ll be able to visit her every day if you want. She’s wrapped in your own baby quilt. Your mother gave it to us,” I said. “It was pink and yellow.” Maybe it hadn’t been as cruel as I’d thought at the time to choose that particular quilt. I spent a moment reconsidering my view of Sarah, but then pushed it aside. She wasn’t important now.
Talitha sniffled, tears dripping down her face.
“Maybe in the morning, we can show you where she’s buried,” I suggested.
She seemed unable to talk.
I waited until the sobs subsided. “Talitha, I’m worried about you. Is there anything you want to tell me about? Is anyone here at home hurting you?” I felt uncomfortable asking so directly, but I had limited time and had to press the issue.
Talitha looked away and didn’t answer.
“I promise not to tell your mother and father,” I said. “You can trust me. Naomi sent me. She asked me to make sure you were all right. She’s worried about you, too.”
Talitha tucked her arms and legs together under the blankets, and pushed her head into the pillow.
“I heard you crying out. Do you remember that? After your father took you inside?” I tried to get her to look me in the eyes. She wouldn’t. “Did he hurt you?”
Nothing.
“Talitha, you don’t deserve to be hurt. You have to tell someone if you need help.”
I felt sick, my stomach twisting. Was God warning me to stop, or was this His signal that I was right to worry? Sometimes I wished that instead of the Holy Spirit, God would use flash cards. Straightforward instructions on what to do next. Turn left. Turn right.
“I want Naomi,” Talitha finally said, her voice small. “She’s always gone. But she’s the only one who really loves me. She’s the one I talk to.”
“Naomi will be here in the morning,” I said, patting her arm to reassure her. That was what she’d told me, anyway. “All right? You can tell her everything then.”
“Really? Tomorrow?”
I nodded.
“Then I just have to sleep and I will see her,” she said, and closed her eyes. It seemed she was almost instantly asleep.
I tiptoed out of the room after that and texted Naomi on the way back downstairs to let her know that Talitha’s cat had died and that she was waiting for her. Maybe Naomi would know the right thing to say to her sister.
I thought about what I’d seen of Stephen and Talitha. I thought about the way she’d reacted when I asked if someone was hurting her. How could I know for sure if she was safe or not? Naomi had asked me to see to this. I couldn’t just walk away and tell her she had to take care of it herself. Somehow, I had to find out more information. And that meant—I had to stay.
I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what I would have to tell Kurt. I didn’t think there was any way I could convince him to stay with me, and I knew it was a bad time in our marriage to lay out an ultimatum. But Kurt and I were grownups. Talitha was just a child. When it came to a choice between our welfare and hers, she always had to come first.
Chapter 12
I walked the empty plate back to the kitchen, where Kurt met me.
“Nephi, Leah, hi! Good work!” I said to the two children who were finishing up the dishes. I was pleased I’d remembered their names. I was tempted to chat with them, just to put off the fateful conversation with my husband. But there was no point in stalling. Kurt and I were going to argue, and I might as well do it now, before I got more tired and more likely to say something terrible to the man I still truly loved.
So I pulled Kurt, who had been standing on the threshold, into the dining room, which was now empty.
“How is Talitha?” he asked.
“She seems to be well enough,” I said. “But she’s asking for Naomi, and I’d like to make sure I’m here when Naomi and Kenneth get here tomorrow morning.” Was there any chance he’d agree with me?
Kurt’s arms were folded across his chest and his face was expressionless. There was my answer. No.