*For the first ten minutes after leaving Grand Forks, Hadley was quiet, and Bobbie didn’t press her with questions. She’d offered to drive her neighbor to her medical appointments in order to offer moral support, but so far Hadley hadn’t leaned on her much. Bobbie did know that Hadley had been fast tracked. She’d gone from her appointment with Bobbie’s GP—who had also been Hadley’s mother’s GP—to a clinic for an ultrasound, then back to the GP.
Now she sat, pale-faced, shoulders slightly hunched, eyes fixed on the road ahead. Occasionally she sipped from the iced latte they had picked up at a drive-thru on their way out of town.
As they passed the roadside marker for the former town of Eholt, Hadley said quietly, “I’m booked for surgery in two weeks.”
“That’s—soon.”
“The ultrasound showed a large mass on my left ovary. They won’t know if it’s cancerous until they get it out.”
“Will they be removing the entire ovary?”
“They’ll be removing both.”
Hadley’s tone was aloof. Like she was talking about someone else. Someone she didn’t even know.
But having gone through this with Denise, Bobbie knew it was a big deal. At thirty-seven Hadley was terribly young to be thrown into surgical menopause. Plus removing both ovaries would make it impossible for her to have more children.
“Is it necessary to remove both? What if the growth isn’t cancerous? Wouldn’t it be preferable to keep one ovary?”
“It’s going to be cancer.”
There was so much certainty in her voice. Clearly the doctor had said nothing to assuage her worry.
“Even if it isn’t cancer why would I keep an ovary? So I can keep worrying about getting it? No thanks.” Hadley took a long drink of her iced latte. “Dr. Hadek knows my family history. And he agrees this is the safest route for me.”
She had made up her mind to do the surgery. Now all Bobbie could do was support her. She knew Hadley’s first worry would be her daughter. “Mom and I will be happy to take Madison while you’re in the hospital. I’m sure Fallon and Jesse will help too, and Stella will provide all the pie you can eat.”
Hadley smiled, almost laughed, but sobered immediately. “Thank you, Mrs. G. So much.”
She reached across the console to touch Bobbie’s shoulder. Now Bobbie could see there were tears in her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Honey we are here for you. It’s going to be okay.” She passed Hadley one of the napkins from the drive-thru.
Hadley wiped away her tears. “My doctor says I shouldn’t go back to work for four weeks, six if I’m carrying anything heavy.”
Bobbie could hear the worry in her voice. “Stella will understand. And if you need a loan to get through this time, I’ll be happy to help.”
“You’re being so kind Bobbie, but it’s just too much. I don’t deserve it.”
“We all need help at different points in our lives. I have no doubt that you will pay this forward one day. In the meantime, it’s our pleasure to help you.”
Hadley stopped talking then and leaned back into her seat. From the way she was twisting her friendship bracelet, it was clear she was far from relaxed. That bracelet, again. Bobbie wished she could remember which student had given it to her and when. Her memory used to be so sharp. Yet another negative about getting older.
*
Hadley and her medical woes preoccupied much of Bobbie and Leif’s conversation during their lunch that Wednesday at the Deadwood Junction. Leif had suggested they meet on the Canada side of the border again because later he wanted to pay a visit to Fern.
Bobbie didn’t like the idea, but she also knew she couldn’t keep dissuading Leif. He’d been devoted to his sister. He needed to know if Fern was his niece. If she wasn’t, Bobbie would feel like a suspicious fool. If, however, she was really Annabelle Singleton, how would she react to being exposed? That was the question that worried Bobbie most.
After they finished their cinnamon buns, they went outside and walked the half block to where Leif had parked his truck. He opened the passenger side door for her, and she climbed inside. They were both quiet, preoccupied with their own thoughts, as they drove out to the Singleton house. Bobbie supposed they would always think of it that way, no matter how long Fern Sinclair owned it.
It was another hot sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. The countryside had lost the vibrant green of springtime and now seemed to be painted in a duller palette of olive and sage. Local farmers and ranchers weren’t yet desperate for rain. But they would be soon.
Neither of them spotted Fern when they first pulled into her yard. A dog came running up to them when they got out of the truck and gave a few barks of alarm.
Bobbie let him sniff her hand. Once he’d checked her out, he moved over to Leif who gave the dog a brisk scratch around the neck.
Bobbie took a moment to look around. The vegetable garden inside the new fence seemed to be doing well. And the perennial garden was really looking beautiful.
“Maybe she’s inside having lunch. I’ll go knock at the back,” Leif said, striding toward the rear of the house.
But before he got there Bobbie saw the dog run into the fallow portion of the vegetable patch. And there was Fern, on her knees, focused on something Bobbie couldn’t see. Bobbie called out, but Fern didn’t seem to hear. She motioned for Leif to follow, then crossed the lawn.
When Fern took ownership of the property this portion of the field had been neatly cultivated. Since then, it looked like a madman had been hacking away at it. There were holes everywhere surrounded by heaps of dirt. Bobbie, wearing Birkenstock sandals, had to walk carefully to avoid twisting an ankle. She could hear Leif coming up from behind her, but Fern still seemed unaware of their presence. She was clutching something in her arms and talking in a low voice to herself.
Again, Bobbie called out her name and finally Fern lifted her face. She had been crying. Was still crying. She blinked rapidly. Looked confused.
“Fern it’s me Bobbie. I’ve got Leif Karlson with me.”
If Fern understood she gave no sign of it. She bowed her head over the soil, and softly stroked the thing she was holding.
With a shock Bobbie realized Fern had a skull in her hand. A tiny human skull.