Brilliant Hues by Naomi Kinsman Page A

frowned. “And why can’t the device do both? Test both adults and children? Leave it up to the individual and their doctor how they want to proceed?”
    “Exactly!” I felt like shouting. Tyler didn’t miss a beat. “As in all medical research, there are limits of time and money. The simpler test is whether a child has the gene. If we tailor the device in this way, it could be ready to use next year. Testing two adults and understanding the probability of the gene showing up in their children is more difficult, and would take a much longer process to get right. Starting with the simpler test is more scientifically sound.”
    “And quicker,” the reporter said. “I’m sure you’d like the device ready as soon as possible. Is it true that you have twin girls, one with this very cancer and one without?”
    Tyler held the reporter’s eyes. “Yes.”
    “So this test could save your daughter’s life, isn’t that right?”
    “Yes,” Tyler said.
    No. Please God, don’t let Charlotte get sick
.
    Somehow I hadn’t put together the fact that Cici’s cancer was genetic, and that as her twin, Charlotte, would be at high risk, too. I’d been too focused on Charlotte’s sadness about her sister. My queasiness was back. I hurried out to the back steps, put my head between my knees and breathed deep.
    A few minutes later, Grant came out to join me.
    “Okay?” he asked.
    I managed a weak smile. “Too many tea sandwiches.”
    “I hear the girls have already finished course two — sushi — and are on to the brownies. Are they really as good as everyone says?”
    “Delicious. But I couldn’t eat one now to save my life.”
    “After you left, Tyler told the reporter that he’s pausing the mediation process until Cici is finished with her treatment. It sounds like there have been complications.”
    I hugged my knees to my chest. “But she’ll be all right, won’t she?”
    Grant stared at his shoes. “I don’t know, Sadie.”
    No one I’d known had ever had cancer, and even though I didn’t actually know Cici, I felt like I did. And knowing that Charlotte could get sick too made me want to run and scream and smash fragile things on the ground. I almost wished Karl would show up again, so I could do a little shouting myself. How could he keep Tyler from finishing the device, just because he was afraid that kids would be born with the cancer gene?
    This test could save Charlotte’s life. If Karl had his way,kids like Charlotte and Cici, kids who might possibly get sick, would never have the chance to be born at all. The thought made me cold and empty. Sickness was horrible, especially in someone you loved. After watching Mom collapse many times, I knew, firsthand. Still, would it be better to not have the chance to love someone just because they might eventually die and leave you? The argument didn’t make sense.
    “Can we go home?” I asked Grant.
    “Sure, if you’re ready,” Grant said.
    “I should go say goodbye to the girls.” I pushed past the coldness, an echo of the hollowed-out feeling I’d battled all spring, and went upstairs to Juliet’s room.
    “You missed the sushi, Sades,” Juliet said.
    “I’m sorry, Juliet.” I couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes. “I’m not feeling well and Grant is taking me home. But I’ll be there on Friday for your show, Bri, okay?”
    “You have to get better,” Bri said. “Saturday’s waterskiing.”
    I nodded, and forced a smile.
    “Call me if you’re still sick in the morning,” Pips said.
    The girls gave me sympathetic waves as I closed the door. Off to home, to my sketchbook, to my soft, soft bed. Maybe I could close my eyes and just forget everything for a while.

Chapter 15
Chinese Jump Rope
    W e’d only talked with the class for a minute at camp that morning, and then sent the kids off to continue working on their books. Today, the kids would finish their rough draft art in pencil and tomorrow we’d bring out watercolors, colored pencils,