Twilight Child (41 page)

 “Lots higher,
I'd say,” Charlie replied.

 Across the
lobby, Molly saw Frances and Peter watching them. Charlie was too busy with
Tray to notice them. Molly took a step forward, hesitated, watching them
through a mist of tears. She saw Frances move toward her, equally hesitant.
When they embraced, Molly was certain, it was not only a mutual contact with
the body, but with the spirit as well. What passed between them was beyond
words. Then they parted, looked at each other briefly, deeply, knowing that
what they shared needed no articulation.

 When Molly
returned to Charlie and Tray, they were still deep in conversation.

 “Then maybe
someday we can go together and see if we can get Nasty Jake,” Tray was saying.

 Charlie
looked suddenly at Molly.

 “We'll have
to ask your mother about that, Tray. Besides, somebody else got Nasty Jake.”

 “Oh.” He
seemed disappointed. Then he brightened. “Then he's up there with my other
Daddy.”

 “Probably is.
I never thought of it that way.”

 He took
Tray's hand. Molly took the other. They started to walk toward the entrance.
But at the door, they stopped and turned, as if the idea had occurred to all of
them at the same time. Across the lobby, Frances and Peter watched them,
smiling.

 Without
unlocking their fingers, all three lifted their arms and waved.