A cold knot formed in my stomach. Tears threatened. That couldn’t be me. My skin had weird patches of gray. Long thin strands of coppery blonde hair framed my pale face and bloodshot eyes. I looked a hundred years old—at least.

“Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out.”

“Figure it out? I look like the crypt keeper.”

“It’s probably just a virus or something.”

“None of this makes sense. I’ve never been so sick, and why is my skin this color?” I turned my arm over and pressed two fingers into the flesh. It turned white a moment then oozed back to grayish blue. “It’s like I’ve been suffocated.”

Wolf was right. I couldn’t be around Benny if I was contagious. My heart sank. Maybe he was already coming down with it and that’s why he was sleeping so much.

We bounced down the rutted road to the main highway. Wolf drove with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the seat next to Benny. I stared at his hand wishing I could grab it, find comfort and safety in him. I felt Wolf’s eyes on my face, but I couldn’t bear to look at him. Not like this. I pulled my hair to one side making a protective curtain between us, shielding him from my ugliness.

He turned left onto the main highway, pulled to the side and called his mom. She agreed to take Benny but my stomach filled with knots. How was I supposed to trust someone I’d never even met before? What if she was a child abuser or something? My mind raced with horrible scenarios.

We traveled in silence for several miles until we came to a big green sign that said, Welcome to Dooley, Louisiana.

A boat repair shop, brown with large windows, sat on the right side of the street, the latest rates crudely painted across the weather-beaten glass. On the opposite side, we passed a gas station. Two scraggly old guys, resting on wooden chairs in front, eyed us with curiosity as we drove by. A checker board sat between them. One lifted a gnarled hand in a friendly wave while the other one spit on the ground and frowned.

Seamless rows of houses in faded pastels rested high on stilts, and shrimp boats lined the docks.

I pulled my cell phone from my bag, dialed Mom’s number and listened while it rang and rang. “Great.” I crammed the phone back in my purse.

“No luck?”

I shook my head. “No, and I only have one bar left before it goes dead.”

“Can’t you charge it?”

“I forgot the cord in the bus. By now, it’s impounded.”

“You can borrow my phone, but there’s no reception at the old house,” Wolf said.

I slumped down in the seat. “Thanks anyhow.”

“Hey, cheer up. Maybe we’ll find your mom while we’re in town.”

“I don’t know. Maybe,” I snapped. How could she be so irresponsible? My chest tightened. What if something horrible had happened to her? My blood boiled. So many times she’d made me worry, only to find out she’d been in a bar or hotel with some guy. Either way, I needed to find her before I could even think of anything else.

The medical clinic didn’t open until noon, so we spent the morning searching every side street, cheap hotel and bar in Dooley. No sign of Mom anywhere.

Wolf pushed the clock display on his truck stereo. “We better head to the clinic. It’s almost noon.”

“I need to get something for Benny to eat before I go.”

“Mom will feed him, no worries.” Wolf steered down a long gravel driveway. A handsome white cottage with a picket fence stood at the end. Daffodils lined the cozy footpath near a garden, lush with plants. A picture-perfect home. I let out a long sigh. Just what I always wanted.

Wolf parked the truck in the shade of a large weeping willow. Its branches drooped like the arms of an octopus. We walked up the path to the house, greeted by a middle-aged woman in a black velour sweat suit, flamingo pink sandals and brunette hair swept into a loose bun. She gave us a wide, welcome smile and waved. As we drew closer, the smile dropped from her face and she reached out to me, putting her arm around my shoulder. “Oh, honey, you look like you could collapse right here on the porch. Why don’t you give that baby to me and come in for some lemonade.” She rubbed my back. “I’m Mrs. Bodine. My son has told me all about you.”

“Thanks, it’s nice to meet you.”

There was something about her that made me feel safe, at home. I handed Benny to her. He smiled and played with her glasses that hung on a gold chain around her neck.

“Why, you’re just the cutest little guy,” she said, kissing him on the forehead. “Let’s get you something to eat.”

“We’re heading to the clinic, Mom,” Wolf said.

“All right. You kids go on. Benny and I will be just fine.” She sat Benny at a sunny-yellow table, peeled a banana, and gave it to him. He greedily ate the fruit.

I bent over and kissed his head. “I’ll be right back, Benny, okay?”

He pointed a finger at my face. “Maudit.”

Wolf’s mom gasped. “Where in the world did he learn a word like that?”

“I think he’s saying mother.”

She shook her head and frowned. “No dear, it’s French. It means…cursed.”

I stared at Benny, my mouth gaping open. His first word. Could Wolf’s mom be mistaken?

Wolf grabbed my arm. “Come on, he’s in great hands.”

“I know he is. Thanks, Mrs. Bodine, for taking care of him.”

She looked up at me and winked. “I just love babies. You go on and don’t worry one bit. You can call if you need to. I can keep him as long as you like.”

A warm ache spread across my chest. I felt I could trust her, and Benny seemed content, but it was still hard to leave him.

“The clinic is just around the corner,” Wolf said. “Hop in and I’ll give you a ride.”

I nodded and climbed in the truck. I felt so crappy, so weak. It was like someone else had invaded my body and was slowly destroying it from the inside out.

We drove down the block and around the corner to a small brick building with long dark windows. Wolf held the door open and I lumbered inside to the counter.

An older woman in a stern gray dress and thick square heels typed on a keyboard. Her alabaster skin matched the color of her hair, clipped close to her scalp in tight curls. I cleared my throat. She peered at me over a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. “Can I help you?”

“I need to see someone. I haven’t been feeling well.”

She studied me and frowned. “That would be me, I’m Dr. Lea. My secretary is ill today.” The doctor motioned for me to follow her with a wave of her hand. “Come on back, sweetie.”

I followed her into a crisp white room while Wolf waited in the lobby. After giving my medical history, I told Dr. Lea all about Benny, my swim in the pond, and my symptoms. She looked me over carefully, taking my temperature and blood pressure. She had me open my mouth and examined my tonsils and felt the glands on my neck. She began to move her hand along my back, then paused.

“When did you notice these welts?” she asked.

“Welts? I didn’t know I had any.”

Dr. Lea’s features were grim. “I want to take a blood test. This appears to be something I rarely see—typhoid. It’s not common, but it’s treatable with antibiotics. My guess is that you contracted it in the pond.”

She jotted notes in my chart. “Other than the dip in the swamp, have you been drinking any water bottled in different countries or eaten any foreign foods?”

I shook my head.

“What about the water from the tap at the old house? Have you been passing any blood?”

“No,” I said, my heart hammering. “Should I be alarmed?”

She gave me a firm look. “If it is typhoid, you should be fine as long as you take your medication. If you don’t, it can progress to pneumonia or intestinal problems. This is a fairly advanced case, but I’m sure we’ve caught it early enough. You’ll be back on your feet in no time.”

The doctor took a needle from a drawer, wrapped a large rubber band around my arm and drew a vial of blood. Setting the tube aside, she pulled a pad from her smock and wrote out a prescription. “I’m giving you a broad spectrum antibiotic that should help. I want to see you back in a few days. Sooner, if you’re not improving.”

I nodded feeling a suffocating wave of anxiety ripple through me. I sucked in a quick breath.

Dr. Lea smiled and placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “I’m confident you will be feeling better soon, but just as a precaution, you’ll want to stay clear of your little brother for awhile. Typhoid isn’t contagious the same way as other viruses are, but until we know for sure what this is, we should minimize your contact with other people. Wash your hands and be sure others in your home do, as well. If your brother shows any signs of being sick, I’ll want to see him right away.”

“Thank you,” I said as she left the room.

I took a deep breath to steady myself before trying to stand. A knock on the door sounded just as my feet touched down. Wolf stuck his head in. “How’d it go?”

“Not bad, I guess. At least we may have some answers.”

“What do you have?”

“She’s thinking I got something from the pond and it’s best if I’m not around Benny for a while. It’s treatable with antibiotics, but it wouldn’t be good for a toddler to get it.”

“I knew it! You went downhill so fast.”

“Oh, great, thanks.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Wolf’s gaze traveled over me. “You still look good, its just that ...”

My cheeks flamed.

Wolf grinned. “Hey, I made you blush. At least you have some color in your face now, even if it’s bright red.”

Ugh, why did I have to be so abnormal?

“Walton’s Drug Store is across the street. We can get your medicine and grab something to drink.”

“Cool, I'd die for a cherry soda right now.”

We walked in silence. My mind racing. The pavement felt harder than usual, pounding the soles of my feet as we walked. The drug store, made of brick, sat on the corner of a sleepy intersection. A loud bell jingled as we walked inside. The heavy scent of cinnamon and apple greeted us. Near the door, I spotted rows of scented candles in country themed baskets. Behind them, stood a rack of T-shirts, postcards and other souvenirs.

We found the pharmacist at the back of the store. After a short wait, we paid for the pills and Wolf bought us a twelve-pack of cherry cola. I took three capsules at once and washed them down with a sugary soda.

We drove to Wolf’s house, my whole body aching. Benny played in the backyard with Mrs. Bodine and Wolf’s dog. I bit my lower lip, watching my brother. I had to get well and quick. I couldn’t bear to be without him. If only Mom would come home, I wouldn’t have to leave him with a stranger.

Mrs. Bodine looked up as we approached. Her hands were caked with mud as she helped Benny shape sand castles in the dirt. “How did it go, dear?”

“Good, I think.” My heart sank. “But I can’t be around Benny until I’m finished with my antibiotics.”

“Well, you just take your time and heal up. I can keep Benny for a couple of days and you can call or check on him whenever you like.”

“Are you sure it’s not too much trouble?”

“Not at all, now I have his diaper bag and things. Is there anything he’s allergic to that I need to know about? If not, I’ll keep him fed, fat and happy.”

“No, nothing that I know of. He likes to take a nap around noon.”

Mrs. Bodine nodded and stood, brushing the dirt off her velour pants. “I have some soup for you on the back porch. Don’t forget it. Chicken broth is just what you need.”

“That sounds great,” I said, swallowing a lump in my throat. I would’ve done anything to have a mother like this. “Thank you.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, really.”

Wolf kissed his mom’s cheek. “Thanks, Mom. See ya later.”

He ran ahead of me and Mrs. Bodine tapped me on the shoulder. “Thank you for befriending my son. He’s had a very rough year. This is the first time I’ve seen him smile in a long time. Wolf puts on a big show, always playing the tough guy. But, deep inside, he’s hurting.” Her eyes watered. “He changed after his father’s death. He became such a loner. I worried he’d never be the same again. Now, thanks to you, I see the old sparkle coming back to his eyes.”

I didn’t know what to say. I rubbed at the back of my neck, feeling uncomfortable.

“Dharma, come on,” Wolf called.

“Better go. Thanks again, Mrs. Bodine.”

Wolf’s mom smiled and nodded as I hurried to the pickup.

Wolf opened the passenger door. I climbed in and he shut it quickly behind me. He jogged around the front of the pickup and hopped behind the wheel. He slipped the key in the ignition and with some coaxing, the truck cranked to life. We started for the old house. All the while I kept glancing at the seat beside me for Benny. I hadn’t been away from him since the day he came home from the hospital. Tears welled in my eyes.

My body racked with chills. A horrible ache traveled through my legs, spread into my body and head. Hopefully soon, the pills would take effect and I could be with Benny again.

Droplets of rain splattered against the windshield, turning into a downpour. Wolf switched the wipers on high and we bumped along the gravel drive leading to the old house. Up ahead, a cloaked figure crossed the road and into the ditch on the other side. Wolf slowed and the figure turned. The hood fell away and I stared in disbelief.

Mom!