Extraits

"Can you stand?"

Elspeth refocused on her mother to see that she'd grabbed one of the napkins from the holder in the center of the table and was waiting to clean up after her. Nodding, Elspeth forced herself to her feet, but had to grab the table to steady herself as the room began to revolve around her.

Wow, I'm not in good shape, Elspeth acknowledged with surprise as she noted the way her legs were trembling. She was also sweating like crazy . . . and now the pain was becoming unbearable. Oh jeez, this isn't good, she thought with dismay.

"Not good at all," her mother agreed in a grim voice as she quickly wiped the blood off the chair. Crumpling the napkin in her hand, she then scooped Elspeth up as if she were still a child.

Elspeth gasped with surprise and glanced wildly around.

"I took control of them," Martine said even as Elspeth noted that both Meredith and Wyatt had blank expressions on their faces. Carrying her out of the kitchen, her mother added, "I've given them both a memory that you were weary and we left them to reminisce so that you could retire."

"Oh," Elspeth breathed and allowed herself to sag in her mother's arms.

"Do not fall asleep," her mother growled as she carried her out of Merry's apartment and upstairs to Elspeth's. "You have got some explaining to do."