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The cry that erupts from her lips is like an animal in horrible pain. She grips the edge of the sink as she collapses to her knees. She’s on all fours on the floor, her body shaking with sobs as she tries to gasp out Halli’s name. “Hal … Hal …” She doesn’t have enough breath. She’s sobbing and shaking, and I don’t know what I should do, but I know I have to do something.
I rush over to her and grasp the sides of her arms and start helping her to her feet. She hugs me so hard the breath is surprised out of my lungs. She clings to me like a drowning woman desperate to save her life. There’s no doubt that these are the arms of a woman who once rowed across an ocean.
“Oh, Halli,” she cries. “My child.” She releases her hold enough to lean back and look at me. She’s so happy it nearly bre
