Megan's Way by Melissa Foster Page A

the awful man, but
for the shame that she knew Olivia had felt in front of the
officers. She wept for her love of Olivia, a love that could never
be tainted by bad decisions. She wept because all of that mess was
her fault and her daughter was paying the price. She wept because
she wasn’t sure, at this juncture, that she was following the right
course with her own life.
     
     
    Relief over Olivia’s safe return swept
through Megan. Her eyes grew heavy, she fingered the business card
of a therapist that the physician had recommended for her and
Olivia. She was lost in thought when Holly appeared in the hallway
at the top of the stairs.
    “How’s our girl?” Holly asked in a sleepy
voice, leaning her body against the wall.
    Megan glanced up and smiled. She put her
finger to her lips and walked down the hall, motioning for Holly to
follow her to her own bedroom.
    They sat on her bed. “My god, Hol, how did
all this happen?” she asked.
    “Remember us, Megan? She’s a typical kid.”
Holly lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “No, she’s not
even a typical kid. She’s better than a typical kid. She never
gives you a hard time. She was just…exploring, that’s all.”
    “Yeah, well…” Megan’s sarcasm trailed off as
she thought about the crazy night.
    “Thank god you were there, Meg. I mean,
whatever it is that you and she share, well, it’s really
remarkable.” Holly propped herself up on her elbow and looked at
Megan, who was splayed out beside her. Jealousy tiptoed through
Holly, and guilt shadowed right behind it.
    “I know. I worry, you know. What if something
happens to me? Who will take care of Olivia?” she asked.
    Hurt and disappointment floated into Holly’s
eyes. “I thought we had all of that worked out. Remember? When she
was five we drew up the documents, just in case something ever
happened.” Holly played with a string on the comforter. “Or have
you changed your mind?” she asked, tentatively.
    Megan sat up, “Oh no! no, I didn’t change my
mind at all. gosh! I just meant, who would know when she was in
trouble like I do, that’s all. goodness, there is no one else who I
would rather have take care of Olivia than you and Jack. You know
that.”
    Holly breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank god!
I was worried there for a minute.” Holly lay back on the bed
again.
    “Meg?” Holly whispered.
    “Yeah?” Megan looked at her friend,
curious.
    “I, um,” she looked up again, away from
Megan, “I got some news today.”
    “Yeah? From who?” Megan asked lightly.
    “From the doctor,” Holly answered.
    Both women looked toward one and other, Holly
uncertainly, and Megan with burning curiosity. Does she
know? “Holly, what is it?” Megan asked in a serious voice. A
rush of adrenaline pushed its way through Megan. Her eyes
    opened wide as she waited for Holly’s
reply.
    Holly reached her hand out and took Megan’s
hand off of her concave stomach and rested it in her own, between
them. A tear escaped from her eye as she stared at the ceiling, the
lump in her throat made it difficult for words to slip by.
    “What, Hol?” Megan whispered.
    “I can’t,” Holly said, the hot tears now
streaked her face, landing in her hair.
    “Can’t what?” Megan turned toward Holly.
“It’s okay, Holly. What is it?”
    “I…I can’t have children,” she said.
    Her words landed empty and hollow in Megan’s
ears. “Oh Hol, I’m so sorry!” Megan sat up and took Holly into her
arms. “I’m so sorry. I knew you were having tests, but I never
thought…” Her sentence hung in the air as her tears fell onto
Holly’s shoulder.
    “I know. We didn’t either. We waited, you
knew that. After Alissa Mae…well, you know. For the longest time I
wasn’t sure that I wanted a child. I wasn’t sure that I could be a
good wife and a good mother. And when she…well… anyway…let’s just
say that it was probably for the best.”
    Holly took a deep breath. “There just didn’t
seem