The Locket Read Free Page B

every bad thing that happens to you is your fault. Sometimes, when something that seems bad happens, it’s for a reason.” Savannah glanced over to her in wonder. “Forgive me for bringing this up, but your father’s death is an example. Not that it was a good thing he died, but if he didn’t, could you imagine having the same relationship with your mom that you have now?”
    Savannah thought of her mother. She thought of her soft, gentle skin and her sweet motherly scent. She thought of the way her short, chocolate-brown hair matched her beautiful hazel eyes, the eyes that never went dark with anger or narrowed from impatience. She thought of how when she was younger she believed that her mother was a queen by the way rooms always seemed to light up when she entered them and by how graceful she constantly could be.
    Her mother was always so polite and well mannered. She was the one who taught Savannah not to put her elbows on the table during dinner and to cover her mouth when she yawned. Not to say that her father was a boar or anything, he just never showed the same kind of courtesy her mom did about some things. It was as if Mrs. Morgan were taught to act that way all her life.
    But Savannah was thinking of her mother the way she was before she became ill. She sniffed again. “But why? Why my mother? First my father died and now my mother is—it just seems wrong.”
    Marie nodded. “I know.” Giving her friend a vast hug, she herself began sniveling. Pulling away, she smiled. “Great, now you’ve made me all teary.” Savannah said nothing, giving her no more than a bland expression. “Anna … I know it’s going to be hard for a long time, maybe even a year or so, but please don’t let me lose you. You’re my best friend, and if I lost you I would have no one. I know things look grim, but you will always have me too, and your aunt, and your uncle, and your cousin. You’re not alone, babe—I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
    When she didn’t say anything, Marie went on. “Do you think you’re going to be okay? I mean, eventually?” Savannah gave a light nod. “Good, because I’m not used to being the sane one in this friendship.”
    ***
    The next morning at breakfast everything was silent; no one felt much like talking, or eating for that matter. Three plates of cold eggs and toast lay on the dining room table while Marie, Savannah, and Mrs. Morgan kept to themselves for the first few minutes of the day. Seeing that nobody was even touching their plates, with the exception of Marie, who was poking at her eggs with her fork, Mrs. Morgan stood up from the table and began picking up their uneaten breakfast.
    “Why don’t you two girls head upstairs and get dressed,” she said. “I have an appointment this afternoon and I think that it would be best if you both stayed across the street until I got back.”
    By the time that they had all finally gotten ready for the day, it was almost noon. Everything was moving so slowly, yet quickly at the same time. No one bothered to hurriedly do anything or move anywhere. But time itself would not stand still or slow down just so that Savannah could spend more time with her mother. They both knew that, and that the days would grow shorter while time would eventually run out.
    Just as Marie had walked into Savannah’s room from the bathroom, Savannah startled her with a sudden question. “Do you want to know the whole story?”
    Although she was upset to hear that Mrs. Morgan was dying, no matter how long she had to live or what she was dying from, she was curious. Mrs. Morgan had become something of a second mother to her over the years, and a substitute for when her real mother wasn’t around. Over the years the three of them frequently played games or watched movies or had gone out shopping together; things you did with friends. Savannah’s mother had been both a friend and a mother. “Well, yes.”
    Savannah sighed heavily as she pulled out a