The Girl Most Likely To... by Susan Donovan Read Free Book Online

his wife and kid. He never had. Seeing this so clearly made her feel like she had no footing, like she was dangling in space. Utterly alone. With a baby inside her./ /So where am I supposed to go, Mama?/ /We'll think of something. With unsteady hands, she opened the screen door a crack and shoved a wad of bills into Kat's palm, trying to cover up her fear with a thin smile. Now, run on over to your aunt Rita's. She knows you're coming. Call me in the morning after your dad's gone to his first class and we'll put our heads together, all right? Now get along./ /Kat stared at the money in her hand, then looked up at her mother's gaunt face and hard eyes, knowing with certainty what she'd always suspectedthat if BettyAnn Cavanaugh was ever forced to choose between her husband and her daughter, the choice would be an easy one./ I'm so cold, Nola, Kat mumbled. So cold all of a sudden.
    Nola hooked her arm through Kat's and pulled until she began walking. Of course you're cold. I'm cold. It's cold outside and now we're both soaking wet. Let's get out of here.
    Kat sat motionless in the chair, her eyes staring unfocused into the fireplace. Nola brought her a glass of wine, placed it in her hands, then whisked away wads of used tissue that had accumulated on Kat's lap and around her feet.
    I'm sorry I'm such a mess, Kat said, afraid to look at her best friend for fear of bawling all over again.
    You're not a mess. You're just in shock.
    Kat sniffed. Thanks for going out there with me. I just needed to see for myself.
    I understand.
    Thanks for being here.
    Nola was in the kitchenette, clanking around. Hon, I'm not doing anything you haven't done for me a million timesevery time I got dumped, or divorced, or hey, remember that time we found out Joey had been selling my Grandma Tuti's jewelry on eBay? I must have cried for two weeks straight. Nola returned to her chair by the fire. To tell the truth, I'm kind of enjoying being the stable one for a change.
    Kat managed a smile.
    You want me to stay in your room with you tonight? Now that would /really/ give Madeline something to gossip about.
    Kat laughed. After so many hours of crying, the sound of her own laughter surprised her.
    You're going to be OK, you know. Nola smiled kindly.
    Kat nodded.
    You had two moms in your life and you've just lost both of them, and it's got to suck.
    Kat nodded again, then grabbed another tissue.
    But you can't feel guilty, hon. How could you have known your mom was sick?
    Kat blew her nose and blinked at Nola. I could have called.
    Nola scrunched up her mouth. True.
    Or written.
    Nola nodded. Well, OK.
    Or knocked on their damn door! But I was pissed off and resentful and I never wanted anything to do with my parents the rest of my life!
    There's that, Nola said.
    Kat reached for another tissue and laughed. What a jokeI find out my mother is dead and all I want to do is talk to Phyllis, but she's dead, too!
    Nola scooted her chair closer. I really miss her.
    That woman was amazing, you know? Kat blew her nose. She took me ina complete nobody off the street. She didn't ask any questions. She gave me and my baby a home.
    Nola nodded again.
    And I think she seemed all that more amazing to me because my actual mother couldn't wait to get rid of me!
    Phyllis Turner had the best heart of anyone I ever ran across, Nola said.
    She really did. Kat raised her wineglass. To Phyllis Turnera woman who lived every day proud of who she was, nothing more and nothing less.
    To Phyllis, Nola said, clinking her glass to Kat's. Whose investment instincts weren't too shabby, either.
    They sat for a few minutes in the quiet. Nola put a hand over her mouth to hide her yawn and Kat checked her watch to find it was after eleven.
    It had been one hell of a long day, for everyone.
    Kat stood up. C'mon. Let's both get some sleep. She walked Nola over to the door. Would you mind if we hit the road as early as possible tomorrow, before anything else bad can happen?
    Nola looked