Shattered Girls (Broken Dolls Book 2) (27 page)

As Daniel takes my hand, I run my fingers through his hair and bring him in for a kiss; our first in decades.

Stunned, he pulls away, wiping off the mustard. “Ella?”

“I love you, Daniel.” Tears flood my eyes. “I love you
so
much. I never told you that. I didn’t want you to die thinking I hated you because I don’t. I never did. The whole doll thing just
really
messed me up. This is our second chance at a life together. So when I’m better and out of this stupid hospital, I’m going to work up the courage to ask you on a date. Do you still like lobster?”

Mirroring my tears, Daniel chuckles. “One doesn’t simply stop liking lobster.”

“Then it’s decided!” I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him again, tremulously rediscovering the comforting warmth of his lips.

He gently pulls away and squeezes my hand. “I’m thinking about retiring.”

“We’re not old enough for that, are we?” I try to sit up, but my sides ache.

Daniel laughs, but I barely hear him. “Maybe not you.”

“Then what will you do all day? Men need projects. That’s why they built the pyramids.”

“I suppose if anything, I’ll retire the doll concept. Things got out of hand. My best invention nearly destroyed everything. Maybe I’ll focus on hoverboards.”

“We’re well past due for hoverboards, aren’t we?”

Daniel laughs again, but his eyebrows are furrowed. I can’t understand why he’s sad. “I’m so proud of you, Ella,” he chokes.

Frowning, I pick the fluff from his cardigan. “Why?”

“You’re an inspiration. For well over thirty years, you lived as a doll, determined to leave your past behind. Yet when it came down to it, and when we needed you the most, you stood up without any complaints. You saved us. You sacrificed yourself to help others. You’ve grown so much.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it. “My Ella.”

Blushing, I look away. “When you grow up with somebody like Gabby, even if it’s four decades too late, it’s hard to stay selfish. She’s an amazing kid.” I jolt. “Where is she? Is she okay?”

“She is well, dear. They’ve returned home. Jason, Pam, and Gabby are sorting out their lives and getting to know one another all over again. Gabby’s a lot happier now.”

“And Sianne?”

“Back at my place. She’s decided to adopt a bunch of cats for some reason. Said she needs to get on their good side before they turn. She’s been reading far too many books about cat vampires.” He shakes his head. “You know Sianne. She’s a worry sometimes, but I commend her work. She got you walking again! Sadly, we can never tell anyone about that. I’m never sharing our family’s concepts again.”

“And Maddox?”

“The kid who tried to shiv me?” Daniel shudders. “He’s back with his family… I get the feeling his story isn’t over yet. He has a lot of issues. Under no circumstances is Gabby ever allowed near that boy again. I still haven’t decided how to deal with that situation. As for Officer Bloom; he is on every media outlet trying to sort everything out. He won’t be charged for… what he did to Chris. Unfortunately, I may have to stand trial to tell my side of the story, but I think I’ll be okay. Officer Bloom said this Daxon character never loses.”

“What a wonderful justice system we have,” I say with a sly smile. “So, reckon we can blow this joint? Take a vacation? I’ve always wanted to go to Florida, or Hawaii.”

Daniel grins and offers me half his sandwich. I take it gratefully, surprised by the taste. I almost forget how to chew and swallow properly.

“Whatever you want, my doll.”

appy birthday, Ella!”

“Oh God, we should stop celebrating birthdays at twenty-five,” I say, the warm glow numbing my face. “That’s a lot of candles.”

“It’s a lot of years,” Jason needles me, resting the cake on the table.

I may not like the occasion, but I do love marking it with my family in the backyard under the starry night.

“What are you going to wish for, Nan?” Gabby asks, her hair cut into a short bob.

“Gabby, I told you that freaks me out. Ella, please. I’m too fab to be a grandmother!”

“What about Nanella?”

“It sounds like a delicious snack,” Daniel says, laughing when I playfully hit his shoulder.

“Okay, okay. I wish for…”

“Don’t say it out loud!” Sianne warns. “The universe will eat it and spit it out!”

“Even if I wish for world peace?” I ask.

“There will never be world peace. Be selfish and wish for a sports car.” Gabby runs a furtive finger along the icing and licks it.

“I don’t want a sports car,” I murmur. “I know what I want.”

Taking a steady breath, I blow, the smoke drifting up into the inky sky, my wish floating aimlessly into the universe. All I can ask is for my family to be happy and healthy. A selfishly selfless wish.

I cut the cake into large pieces. Life’s too short for small slices, especially considering how much weight I’ve lost. Walking is the best gift I’ve ever received.

“Gabby,” Pam says. “Could you go put some music on, please? And Jason, turn the fairy lights on; it’s too dark.”

Mouths full, Gabby and Jason comply, lightheartedly bumping into one another. Life is perfect. We’re happy and we’re normal, and all dolls in the house now belong in the arms of several charity groups. They kind of freak us out now.

Dawdling over to the back gate, I lean into it and stare wistfully at the full moon.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” a husky voice asks.

“It sure is.” I sigh. When I realize nobody is near me, I search the area. “Who said that?”

“Down here.”

I glance down and find Gabby’s cat Jupes, camouflaged in the night. Sweet lord. It’s finally happened. I’m going mad like Sianne.

“You’ve been missing all year,” I whisper. “Gabby got a new cat.”

“Oh, I’m not Jupes,” the cat says. “Jupes is my spy, now.”

My heart flutters, and I lose my appetite. I point at the cat. “What the hell are you?”

“What? You don’t recognize me?” It purrs and flicks its tail. “It’s Lisa.”

I blink. “I really am going mad, aren’t I?”

“Hey, if we could transfer our consciousness into a doll, why not into anything else? Do you know how rich this could make me? Well, even richer than I already am. I’ve done the research, crunched the numbers. I’m not abducting anybody, the dolls that are already brainwashed in other countries are doing all the legwork for me. It’s cool to have mini-slaves. Win for the doll-apocalypse!”

My stomach churns. I almost wish I could be a doll again to stop the adrenaline and involuntarily bodily functions.

“Where are you?”

“My body is in a safe place. My mind? My mind is in this gloriously slinky cat. Just try jumping in this form. It’s like flying.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Duh! I already said it’s for the money! And world domination, of course. I’d make a great leader. Reckon you’ll join me, Ella? The offer still stands. This new company is controlled by me, and me alone, so it will succeed. That is, of course, unless you want to make it a partnership. Come on. You’re wasting that spunk of yours rotting in this town.”

I don’t swallow. I stare at Jupiter… I mean, Lisa… and cringe.

“Daniel?” I call. “You might want to come see this.”

isease is the villain of our existence. We can fight attackers with our fists. We can fight uncertainty with passion. We can fight fear with hope. But a battle with sickness? That’s a war we’ll never win. We can defeat one, but another will emerge. Sickness never goes away. It may lay dormant long enough to convince us we’ve won. But it always comes back, stronger and smarter. It sneaks up on us at our most vulnerable. Even the common cold is intelligent enough to mutate.