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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: After the accidental death of her baby daughter, a distraught mother struggles to deal with the loss--and with an imagination that won't let her go.

eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: F&SF, 1983
Fictionwise Release Date: March 2001

31 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [99 KB], eReader (PDB) [35 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [22 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [21 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [42 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [94 KB], hiebook (KML) [77 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [51 KB], iSilo (PDB) [18 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [23 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [51 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [35 KB]
Words: 6424
Reading time: 18-25 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

Nell flipped on the light in the foyer and sniffed. The house smelled of pine-scented Lysol. She hated coming home to nobody. Mondays, at least, were tolerable. Julieta, the cleaning woman, worked from ten to three and her presence always seemed to linger. Nell kicked off her shoes and wriggled her toes in the nap of the newly vacuumed carpet. She wished she were messy enough to keep a full time maid busy. Maybe she should buy a cat.

She padded into the kitchen, popped a frozen chicken tetrazzini into the microwave and pulled a bottle of chardonnay from the refrigerator. She drank her first glass in two gulps and then peeled the price tag from the bottle. The second glass she sipped, savoring the balanced fruit, the hint of oak. She set her briefcase on the living room table and went upstairs to change.

When she saw the tricycle parked next to her bed she stiffened as if a current were crackling through her. She remained immobilized by this electric thrill of horror for some time, gaping and at the same time wanting desperately to look away. Mounted on the handle bars was a pink wicker basket. The plastic seat was covered with a strawberry design. Bits of gravel were wedged into the grooves of the solid rubber tires and the green enamel was pitted and scarred from heavy use. A moan welled from the back of her throat and became an inarticulate keen. When she could move again she slumped against the wall.

Her first lucid thought was that someone was playing a vicious prank. Julieta! She would call the bitch and fire her. The phone was at hand--but it seemed to mock her weakness. With a curse she swept it from the nightstand and fled down to the bar in the living room. She was trembling when she reached for the scotch; Cutty Sark splashed and beaded on the counter. She poured three fingers into the tumbler and choked it down neat.