Frank’s scowl deepened. “She was flying an airplane at seven months?”
“That’s another part of why your pal here was a preemie.” On cue, the baby broke into a full bawling cry. We had arrived at his truck as we began to argue, and had stopped walking. “I’d better keep moving, rock her to sleep,” I said.
“Here … I’ll bounce her,” he said.
“Just put her in the backpack, please.” I didn’t like to be hard on Frank, but it really bothered me when Sloane got tweaked, and I wanted to be alone with my inadequacy. In the months since Sloane Renee had been born, I had held her for hours every day, trying to walk off her colic, trying to get her to sleep so Faye could, too. And since the introduction of solid foods, I had given her at least half of the feedings. I knew her every mood and every dimple, knew what made her smile and what made her cry, or knew these things as well as anyone did, but that did not make her mine, and she at times like this, she let me know it. “I’m sorry. I think just walking quietly is the best thing, with as few distractions as possible.”
“Then I’ll stop by later,” he told me, and to Sloane he said, “You’re a lucky baby. Auntie Emmy’s a very good mom.” He gave me a look of longing. He turned. He started to walk away, but turned back. “I … I’m not sure I’ve made it clear about the Krehbeils. There’s really been some talk, Em.”
“See you,” I said, a bit more forcibly than was necessary. I turned also, and headed resolutely toward the museums. I felt like a prize also-ran. Here was a fine man who was wonderful with children, and I had left him.
One block farther along, I heard him call to me again. I spun around to hear what he was saying. A passing truck swallowed his words, but they sounded like, “Take care.” A common enough phrase, and yet the look on his face said that it was less a wish than a warning.
KILLER DUST
Copyright © 2003 by Sarah Andrews Brown.
Excerpt from Earth Colors © 2004 by Sarah Andrews Brown.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
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eISBN 9781466818057
First eBook Edition : April 2012
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2002031889
St. Martin’s Press hardcover edition / February 2003
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / March 2004
Killer Dust Page 34