Save Me - Lisa Scottoline [139]
“Harry Potter.”
Rose hid her smile.
Amanda said, “I like Harry Potter movies. Do you?”
“Yes,” Melly answered. “If you want, I can bring your homework to the hospital. But I can’t do it on Wednesdays because I’m starting my riding lessons.”
Amanda’s eyes widened. “You ride horses?”
“Yes. I ride Ebony.”
“Felicity rides horses. I love Felicity. She’s my old favorite. Lanie is only my new favorite.”
“Who’s Felicity?” Melly asked, puzzled.
“She’s an American Girl, too. She lives in Virginia. I have the DVD at home. You can come over and watch it when I get home, okay?”
“Okay,” Melly answered, cheering. “I never read American Girl but I have one of the books, too. Nicki.”
“Nicki is the one who likes dogs.”
Behind them, Eileen smiled at Rose. “Amanda knows everything about those American Girl books. She knows all the characters. She’s obsessed. You can’t imagine.”
“Uh, yes, I can.” Rose laughed, and Eileen motioned to her.
“Let’s go outside and let them talk, huh?”
“Good idea.” Rose followed her into the hallway, eavesdropping to make sure Melly was okay. The girls began to yammer about Felicity and Hermione, and Rose smiled. “Isn’t that great?”
“Great.” Eileen’s expression grew serious. “But I have to say, in person, I’m really sorry, for everything.”
“Forget it.” Rose waved her off, but Eileen held up her hand.
“No, listen. I told you on the phone that Amanda’s memory is in bad shape. It is. She doesn’t remember much, and what she does comes in dribs and drabs.”
“Okay.”
“So yesterday, we were talking about you and Melly, and, well, she remembered something.” Eileen frowned deeply, her regret plain. “She remembered that when the fire broke out, you took her out to the hallway with Emily. That you told them to go to the playground, but she went back in for Jason’s iPod, then got lost in the smoke. It wasn’t your fault, at all.” Tears brimmed in Eileen’s blue eyes. “I’m so sorry, for everything I accused you of.”
“Shh, it’s okay, don’t cry, the kids’ll hear.” Rose gave her a hug, and Eileen’s chest heaved with a sob, then a soft cry escaped her lips.
“I’m so sorry. I thought you abandoned Amanda for Melly, and that you didn’t even try.”
“Hush a minute. Listen to those kids. They’re laughing.”
Eileen settled down, her tears subsiding, and the mothers eavesdropped while the daughters yammered about Lanie missing her best friend Dakota, and Harry missing his best friend Ron, then they segued into what costume they would wear for Halloween, which, as any mother knows, is a conversation that lasts several weeks.
And by the end of the visit, the daughters had gotten to know one another better, and so had the mothers.
And as far as Rose was concerned, that was world peace.
Chapter Eighty-six
The morning was clear and cold, finally October in earnest, and Rose walked toward the school, holding Melly’s hand. John snoozed happily, cocooned in his Snugli, and Melly was bundled up, her red puffy coat making her backpack fit too tightly.
Rose tugged at her backpack strap, on the fly. “We have to adjust these when you get home.”
“It’s the coat, Mom. It’s too heavy.”
“It’s cold today.”
“Not that cold.”
Rose smiled, delighted to be talking about normal things again. Meanwhile, mothers were turning their way, smiling and waving as they approached the entrance ramp. The news had been full of stories about her, the Homestead CFO had been indicted, and its board had announced that it was going to rebuild the plant and compensate any victims of its crimes. And the company had already reached a voluntary settlement with Eileen, in connection with Bill’s murder.
“Way to go!” one mom called out, and a dad in a suit flashed her a thumbs-up. Another mom shouted, “Hi, Rose. Hi, Melly!”
“Hiya!” Rose called back, and Melly looked up, squinting against the bright sky.
“Who’s that, Mom?”
“I have no idea.”
Melly giggled, bewildered. “Mom, what’s going on?”
“It’s what I told you.” Rose and Leo had tried to explain what had happened, but it