The person who could walk into a hospital waiting room and make everyone
else believe things would somehow be all right.
But now her hands were shaking.
“Helen?”
She looked at me.
Not at Natalie.
Not at Aaron.
At me.
“Margaret, we need to go inside.”
“What is happening?”
“Please.”
Aaron turned back around.
“What did you see?”
Helen looked at the birthmark again.
“A crescent.”
Aaron touched his shoulder.
“I’ve always had it.”
I could hear children splashing in the pool.
Someone turned off the music.
Natalie crossed her arms.
“Can somebody explain why everyone is acting insane?”
Helen whispered:
“Inside.”
PART 3 — THE KITCHEN
We went into Natalie’s kitchen.
Aaron followed.
So did Natalie.
My older son, Christopher, came too.
Helen shut the sliding door.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she asked Aaron:
“How old are you?”
“Forty-one.”
My heart began pounding.
“When’s your birthday?”
