CHAPTER 29CHARLIE
December 24, 2090
“Aumont, this is a bad idea.” I paced from the basement stairs to the living room couch just outside my bedroom. “It’s Christmas and she’s family.” Rochelle sat on the couch, already wearing the velvety green dress and shiny black shoes she’d chosen for Christmas mass. She took a deep breath and picked up the phone on the end table, finger poised to dial her aunt’s number.
“But every time you get her involved in your life, she causes problems.” I couldn’t decide if my worry was about Audrie coming to take Rochelle away or deciding I was healed enough to join the TCI before I had a pendant. My mind had been far from those concerns all day. Alexander had come over to help us eat Kat’s amazing five-course meal, then we watched Christmas movies and opened
