Wait for the Wind Read Online Free PDF Page B

thin hand turned the doorknob and he closed it behind him as he left the room. Kate watched him go. She knew he would start setting things to rights. She thought of his wife and Rhiannon, his grown daughter who was a few years younger than her, and the pub he’d owned for as long as she could remember. She wished she could do something for him. She’d wanted to help people, not watch them die.
    No more patients today.
    She opened her office door, sat at the cramped desk and buried her face in her hands. Oh, she wanted to cry. First Ryan, then all the raw memories flooding back to her. If she could just have a moment to herself. A little ball of light in the shape of a heart floated in front of her line of sight. Kate sighed. Such a sweet–if odd–way Allie had of letting her know she was home without interrupting her work. Life was calling, and the heartache would have to wait.
    Kate placed Mr. O’Malley’s chart in the holder on her desk. She’d schedule him with an oncologist first thing in the morning, though she knew he wouldn’t go. Still, she had to try. Flipping off the bright overhead light, she pulled the office door to and locked it, always mindful of the medications she kept in the locked cabinet. Allie wouldn’t ever touch them, but she was careful nonetheless.
    Kate walked to the end of the hall past the exam rooms and opened the door to their little apartment space. Allie sat at the table with her books, pencils and paper. Kate smoothed her daughter’s dark silky hair. Skye’s hair fell just like that, straight as rain. Allie must have inherited the Corrigan side of the gene pool there, and her eyes were like Ryan’s. How many times had she looked into her daughter’s eyes and found Allie’s father in them? Countless.
    “How was your day at school?”
    “Okay, I guess. How was your day at work?”
    “Okay, I guess. A lot sad. So, what happened in school today?”
    “There’s this stupid girl in my class who just won’t quit picking on me.”
    This she could handle. Bullies were an easy fix compared to failed romances. “And does this girl have a name?”
    “Shannon.”
    “Did you stand up to her?”
    “Well–” Allie hid her face behind her hands. “I kind of set her hair on fire.”
    “Allie!”
    “Mom, chill. I put it out, but she’s so obsessed with her hair. I thought that would teach her a lesson. Plus it was cool to see the look on her face when I conjured up that fireball, and I was just so mad. It didn’t hurt her, just her attitude. ”
    “You have to control your temper, Allaina. What is that phrase Devin makes you write over and over again?”
    “ An it harm none .”
    “Yes. An it harm none . I don’t want to have to visit you in prison after you accidentally get angry and zap some brat with a fireball. I also don’t want to deprive you of doing something you were meant to do, but if you can’t control your magic, the lessons will stop. Understood? With great power–”
    “Comes great responsibility. I know, Mom. I watched Spiderman. She told the whole class I was stupid, fat and so ugly even my father didn’t want me. Is that true? Did Dad leave you because you were pregnant with me? Is it my fault you’re alone?”
    Kate hugged her. “No baby, no. Your dad loved you so much, but he walked away from me because he thought I’d had an abortion. He hurt so badly that he ignored all my attempts to contact him, so I never got to tell him that you existed. I choose to be alone, but I’m not lonely. I have you and our family. Don’t worry about that.”
    “Well, I know I’m not fat, so I didn’t believe everything she said, but it still hurts. He’s back, isn’t he? I felt your energy shift and sort of ripple. Dad’s come home.”
    “Yes, baby.”
    “Can I go on to Grandma’s? I want to help with dinner.”
    “Sure. I’ll be right behind you as soon as I lock everything up. Be careful and take a jacket. Rain’s coming.”
    “Mom.” Allie rolled her