"I'll be back." Once in the hall and out of earshot, Jane said, "They were thinking of cutting it out, but they thought it might be too little. They say they'll do it if there's any trouble. I hope they do. The sooner it's gone, the easier things will be, especially now She can't have a baby now. Not with the cast and all " She can.

They'll simply wait until the baby is able to function on its own, then take it by cesarean "But donlt you see, it's no good. She can't stay with you anymore. She needs someone to take care of her, but he won't have her in the house. He pretends he doesn't have a daughter.

He's been uglier than ever." She didn't have to elaborate.

Paige wanted to scream. "You don't have to suffer through that, Jane.

I've told you before. You could speak with someone."

But Jane was shaking her head. "That'll make it worse. He'll beat me something awful if I tell anyone."

We car. get a restraining order."

"But I don't want one. I don't want to kick him out. He's my husband."

Paige had long ago learned that she could express all the fury in the world, but it wouldn't change the fact that many women who were mistreated would choose that mistreatment over being alone. She neither understood it nor agreed with it but then she had never been married. She had never loved any man, much less one with problems.

Mara had. Mara would be so much better talking to women like Jane Stickley than Paige was.

But Mara wasn't there, and Jill was lying alone in the other room.

Paige gave Jane's arm a little rub Think about it. I can help, if you want it. In the meantime, we have to support Jill. The baby's fate will be decided without any help from us."

With Jane in tow, she returned to the room and sat with Jill for a short time. When Jill fell asleep again, she left and, heavy-hearted, set off for homP She pulled into the driveway, parked behind Nonny's car, and let herself in the front door.

Nonny was in the living room playing pattycake with Sami while kitty looked on curiously. The three offered such a heartwarming picture, in contrast to the harrowing tableau at Tucker General, that Paige felt a sudden giddiness.

Oooooooo," Sami said, and held up her arms.

Paige swept her up and gave her a hug. "How's Mommy's little girl?"

She rocked her from side to side. "It's so good to see you. Both of you," she said to Nonny. "All of you," she said to kitty. "I feel like it's been a year and a day since I left." She sank down on the sofa and curled up in a corner with Sami still in her arms. Kitty jumped behind the crook of her knees.

"Is everyone taken care of?" Nonny asked.

"For now. We lost another one in Burlington.

That makes four. More than a hundred hospitalized between Tucker and others. Half again as many treated and released." She closed her eyes. "The old movie house. Mara knew." She breathed in deeply.

"Mmmmm, this little one smells so good. So clean and healthy, after all that." By contrast she felt filthy, but she was too tired to move.

"Jill is in rough shape. She has a fractured pelvis.

The baby is teetering."

"Oh, dear. I'm so sorry."

"Me too." The words were an effort. Sami was so warm against her that she snuggled closer.

"I won't crush you," she whispered, but the next thing she knew, Nonny was shaking her shoulder.

You should be in bed, sweetheart."

"In a bit," Paige said, and dozed off again.

This time Sami's squeal brought her awake with a start. The child was standing against the side of the sofa with her face inches away.

She squirmed out of your arms half an hour ago," Nonny explained, "but she refuses to go far. I think she missed you."

Paige smiled and touched Sami's mouth.

"Geeeeeee," Sami said, crinkled her nose, and smiled back.

Paige planted a kiss on her cheek. "Such a sweet baby. But Mommy's dead tired. I have to sleep." With an effort, she pushed herself up.

"Just for a couple of hours. Can you stay, Nonny?"

"I intend to."

"Just for a couple of hours," Paige repeated, but the last few words were slowed by the realization that she no longer had a baby-sitter.

"For as long as you need me," Nonny assured her. She wrapped an arm around her waist and propelled her toward her bedroom. "You smell musty."

"Movie house dust. It was worse than the blood."

If I run you a bath, will you fall asleep in it?"

"Definitely. Later." She stumbled into the bedroom, but without Sami's sweet baby smell, she couldn't bear herself. So she stood under the shower, soaped, rinsed, toweled herself dry, then climbed into bed and was instantly asleep.

Noah and Sara learned about the movie house disaster when they went into town Sunday afternoon for brunch. They didn't have to ask any questions. No one in the coffee shop was talking about anything else.

All they had to do was to sit in their booth and listen to the conversation around them.

"Horace's boy was there. He broke a leg.

Porter's broke two arms."

"Half the town was there. Broken bones is the least of it."

The balcony fell right down on the ones underneath. Horrible.

Horrible." zShoulda known it would happen, place was so old." gToo old to be having a concert with jumping and foot stomping and all."

"Jamie's in big trouble, lawyer says."

"Serves him right, the old coot."

WThey should make him add a new wing to Tucker General. I hear it's filled to brimming."