0142

"You still not tell Sabastian?" Claudia asked Susan, as they watched the woman jog away.

"No."

"You not think this important?"

"It will be, but not yet," Susan said. "Sabastian has more important things to worry about now."

"O.K.," Claudia replied, as the woman turned a corner onto a side street.

Mary Angle jogged up to the door of her friend's house, sat on the stoop, and cried. She sat there for hours. She sat there until her friend came home from work.

"Mary, have you been crying again?" her friend asked, sitting down next to her.

"Sara, I think I need professional help."

"What?"

"The last few days I've been seeing this girl and I think she's my granddaughter. But I know she can't be."

"There there," Sara said, putting her arm around her.

"The girl said hi to me the other day in the diner. Then, when I went for my run, I saw her again.

"She said hello. I asked her name, she said it was Susan. At least I think she said that was her name. I don't know anymore. That's my granddaughter's name."

"Oh, Mary," Sara said, giving her a hug.

"Then, when I went to leave, I swear she said goodbye grandma Mary. But I don't think I told her my name. How could she know my name? How could she have called me grandma?" Mary asked in a sad whimper before breaking down again.

"Mary, maybe you should see someone. You're going through a confusing and difficult time. I know I needed to talk to someone when I left Bob, and, well, your situation is harder than mine was. I really think it could help."

"I want to, but I don't know anyone," she said. "I just don't know." Mary was confused and tired.

"Let's get you inside and into bed and I'll see if I can't find some numbers for you."

"Thank you so much Sara. I'm so sorry for all this. I know I'm a burden."

"Don't even say things like that Mary. We women have to stick together," she said, walking with her guest back into the house. "Remember when I found out my husband was cheating on me?"

"Yes."

"You stayed with me for a week. I know for certain that I would have killed myself if you hadn't taken the time to be with me. I don't think I can ever repay that debt, but consider this the first step."

"You're too kind to me," Mary said, as Sara put her into bed and pulled the covers over her. Mary went right to sleep.

"Oh Mary," Sara said running her hand over her friend's hair. "How could anyone deal with the loss of a child?"

After a few minutes, Sara stood up and went into her living room. She sat down, picked up the phone, and called Mary Angle's husband.

[Copyright Reuben Gregg Brewer, 2005. All rights reserved.]