Family Ties
(Continued)
I believe my husband was relieved. He never asked, mourning her for a brief time as the daughter he�d never had. But I could not let her rest without knowing. Today is her birthday. I had to see. I open my eyes and carefully stack the photographs atop each other, placing them back into the envelope.

�See to it she gets these.� I reach into my purse, pulling out a couple hundred credit notes. �She is not to know they come from me.�

�Madame.� Jhaelyn nods.

�And the other item?�

He reaches into a hidden pocket of his jacket, after a moment pulling out a small silk lined pouch. My hands are shaking slightly.

�For your trouble.� I hand him another, thicker envelope.

�Thank you.�

�Shall we set this date for next month?� I say. I can feel the irony twist my lips in the faint impression of a smile. I ring the bell to call him an escort.

�Of course, Madame de Laurens.� But as he bows his head to leave, in his eyes I see small sympathy replaced by disgust. I don�t care. I can taste it, cinnamon and acrid on my tongue. And soon I will feel the joy. Junglestorm was a mistake. Now I only stick to the classics. When his back is turned, I reach into the pouch and place a strip into my mouth. The air is no longer thin. I breathe. The room folds and colors run together. Staring at the window I see the sky is whole.
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