The Ninth Session by Deborah Serani

Author:Deborah Serani [Serani, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781946920751
Publisher: PublishDrive
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Tuesday Night

I

finished work early and grabbed a late afternoon nap but awakened with a start, feeling something wet and cold on my face.

“What the hell—” Within seconds, I realized it was Shasta. “You scared the shit out of me, Nicole.”

She couldn’t read my lips, but she didn't have to.

“You forgot,” she said flatly.

“Forgot what?” I tried to push Shasta off, but she kept nuzzling her snout all over me, jumping on the bed.

“Dinner. You forgot me and the kids were coming for dinner,” she signed.

“It’s not that I forgot. I just didn’t remember,” I signed to her.

Nicole and I had similar features, pale freckled skin, brown eyes, and long chestnut hair, but I was a bit taller. I took advantage of my height and weight at that moment and hip-checked her onto the bed as I walked by.

“Ow.” Nicole said aloud.

I took my index fingers and dotted them down my cheeks, the sign for crybaby.

“Any news from the police about Soraya's break in?”

“Yes,” she said speaking, hoisting herself off the mattress. “But the kids can hear us, so let's sign.”

Talking in sign away from the kids was a wise choice. Though Rebecca and Seth were only five years old, they were skilled Coda’s. Able to play and be busy, they also listened and monitored the environment, knowing when to offer help if needed. In fact, just as silence fell between Nicole and me, they appeared.

“Aunt Alicia,” Rebecca said, poking her head into the doorway, “Where are those animal puzzles?”

“Gimme a kiss first.”

Rebecca gave me a peck on the cheek.

“They’re in the closet by the front door, honey.”

As she dashed away, Seth ran up and jumped into my arms. “I can’t find Elvis?”

“Check the loft. But it’s hot up there. Bring him down and play here.”

Seth jumped down and headed for the stairs like a bat out of hell.

“Don’t pull his tail,” Nicole yelled out.

My niece and nephew were treasures. Since Ryan and I never had children, they were as close to our own. Early in our marriage, Keith and Nicole were great about letting us be a part of the twins’ life. We were their god-parents, their Friday night babysitters. We also went to soccer games, karate practices, and dance recitals. That is, until Ryan got ill.

When Ryan died, only Rebecca and Seth gave me any semblance of joy. Being with them was like a magic elixir. A medicinal tonic. As I watched Rebecca settle into her puzzle and Seth bound up the stairs, I drank the moment in.

Nicole knocked into me on purpose, breaking the spell as she walked Shasta into the living room. Once there, she removed her leash and vest and put them on the couch.

It was rest time. Shasta walked over to Rebecca, scooted herself to the floor, and stretched out by her legs.

“Don’t eat my puzzle,” she said to the dog.

Shasta looked away and groaned. Then her body twisted and seized.

“She’s doing that coughing thing again, Mom,” Rebecca signed.

“I know. She did it earlier this morning.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.