The Christmas Train by Rexanne Becnel Page B

Joelle.
    â€œIt’s me. Yeah, I know it’s early but, well, I’ve got something to tell you.”
    F ROM the bedroom Anna could smell the coffee, an aroma she associated with Nana Rose. They’d had a cup together every morning, black for her grandmother, and heavy on the milk and sugar for her. Milk coffee, Nana Rose had called it.
    Should she get up since he was up?
    Next to her Miss Eva lay very still. She’d coughed a lot during the night, but now her breathing, though raspy, was even.
    Anna studied the dim bedroom, the tall chest of drawers and the set of three photos of wild ducks or geese or some kind of bird. At least he didn’t have football and basketball posters in his room like her friend Sheila’s father did.
    Then she heard his voice. Was someone here with him?
    By the time she reached the door she realized he was on the phone with someone named Joelle. His girlfriend, of course. And he was telling her about Anna. Finally.
    â€œ. . . was in college. Yeah, I know. But she’s never been a part of my life—”
    He broke off, obviously getting an earful from this Joelle.
    â€œYou’re right. You’re right. I haven’t been a part of her life.”
    Anna’s shoulders slumped and she turned away from the door. It sounded like Joelle was more on her side than her own father was.
    So what else is new? She’d always known that neither of her parents wanted her. The question was, would he keep her, send her to his parents, or . . . or what? Put her in foster care? Could parents do that, just hand their kids off if they didn’t want them? She should have made friends with Alex in fourth grade last year. Everybody said he’d been in foster care for almost a year before he got adopted by a real family and moved to their school. He could have filled her in on what to expect.
    â€œNo, not yet,” her father went on. “I’m going to see them today.”
    Anna cracked the door open a little wider and leaned forward enough to peer into the living room. She still couldn’t see him, but she could hear better.
    â€œI don’t know, Joelle. Show up with her in tow? Don’t you think I should tell them first? Soften the shock a little?” Then, “No, I haven’t called my sister yet.”
    That was interesting, Anna decided. He’d told his girlfriend about her before he told his family. Either he was more afraid of his family than he was of her, or else he wanted to show her how important she was to him. Anna wished she could hear Joelle’s reaction to the surprise presence of a daughter in her boyfriend’s life.
    â€œShe’s still asleep,” Anna’s father said. “I’ve got this old woman here, too. She was traveling with Anna. I’m worried that she has Alzheimer’s, though, because she thinks I’m her brother, Karl. First thing this morning I’ve got to find the real brother, or else locate her son, who’s apparently a soldier. One of them has to come get her before I can go anywhere.”
    When he suddenly came into view, pacing across the living room, Anna drew back. “I know she’s not my responsibility.” She watched him thrust one hand through his hair. “But Anna is.”
    Anna leaned forward again when he moved out of sight. Was he going to tell the girlfriend what she had threatened to do last night if he didn’t let Miss Eva come with them?
    â€œLet’s just say she’s a very persuasive kid.”
    She heard the water running in the kitchen sink, muffling his voice. But Anna had heard enough to feel reassured, at least a little. He planned to own up to his whole family about her. That was good. And it sounded like he intended to help out Miss Eva. Not that he wanted to help her out. But at least he was sticking to the promise he’d made last night.
    Relieved, Anna got up and headed for the bathroom. She hadn’t