Nathan knew what was coming next and was dreading it. “Tell me about Ma, Nathan.”
There was no easy way to tell her how Ma died, no words that would skirt round events. Nathan knew that Dorothy would take it hard when he told her. He wished that there was some way he could soften the blow of bad news.
“I"m so sorry to tell you like this. She died last November. She had stomach cancer.”
“Oh God. Poor Ma; oh poor Ma. Was it bad?”
“Pretty bad.”
Dorothy was very upset, and she wept for Ma, her great friend who"d lavished kindness on her and loved Dorothy for her own sake. And she wept for Nathan and a little for herself. Nathan knew he"d c***k up if Dorothy"s grief continued. He took Dorothy"s arms and raised her from the chair, picked her up and sat down with her on his knees. She was so
