Promises to Keep Nan Rossiter (books for 7th graders .txt) 📖

the amazing little person in his arms. As tiny as he was, he had all the working parts—miniature organs, ten fingers and toes, and a tiny beating heart. He was a miracle—it was almost too amazing to believe, and the idea that he had once been this small was even more unbelievable. He looked into the baby’s dark blue eyes. “You know any songs, little man?” he whispered, and then he started to softly sing the Gershwin song his mom had always sung to him when he was little. Mason smiled as he softy sang, and the baby’s eyes grew wide as he made a small “O” with his mouth and then smiled a little, crooked half smile that lit up his eyes. “Wow,” Mason whispered. “Singing really does make a difference.”

“It really does,” Sue said, and Mason looked up to see her leaning against the doorway. “I didn’t know you were such a good singer, Mason.”

He laughed at being caught. “Not really.”

“Your mom had a beautiful voice, too.”

He nodded and looked down at Logan. “I can’t believe how perfect he is—to think he has all these little parts, all working together just the way they’re supposed to. He’s so tiny, but he has emotions, sensations, thoughts, talents . . . and a whole big life ahead of him. I wonder what he’ll do with it.”

Sue smiled. “That’s why your mom and I loved working in maternity and in the NICU—it gives you pause, and makes you realize just how miraculous life is . . . not to mention how calming holding a baby can be . . . when he’s not fussing,” she added with a chuckle.

Mason nodded and then looked up. “Soo . . . I’ve made my decision.”

Sue eyed him questioningly. “Decision about what?”

“College.”

“And?”

“I’m gonna go this fall.”

“Oh, that’s awesome, Mason. I think it’s the right decision.”

He nodded. “I’m also going to try to find her soon.”

Sue’s face lit up with a smile. “Your mom would be so happy. I’m sure she’s looking down and beaming right now. She’s still watching over you, you know.”

“I know,” he said with a wistful smile. “So, do you have another little miracle for me to sing to?”

“You bet,” she said.

Mason got up and gently laid Logan back in his crib. “Don’t worry, little man,” he said softly. “We’ll do this again.”

Sue lifted out another baby and handed it to him. “You’re not gonna believe this, but this little guy is named Mason.”

Mason looked down at the baby. “Nice!” he said with a grin.

32

“GUESS WHO I MET THE OTHER DAY,” MAEVE SAID, EYEING HARPER AS she sat with her sister and niece in one of their favorite downtown restaurants, Goose Feathers Café, having breakfast.

“Who?” Harper said, taking a bite of her chocolate croissant.

Maeve casually dipped her spoon into the café’s signature dish, the Bird’s Nest, a yummy bowl of grits with homemade salsa, poached eggs, cilantro, and a ring of cheddar cheese, making it look very much like its name. “None other than Master Sam Finch.”

“No way!” Harper exclaimed. “Where?”

“Way,” she said nonchalantly. “At his house . . . and I can definitely see why you’re enamored of him.”

Harper’s cheeks flamed. “I’m not enamored of him.”

Maeve raised her eyebrows. “How can you not be? He’s very cute . . . and he definitely has eyes that ‘look like pieces of moorland sky,’” she teased in her best British accent. “Oh, and I also met the infamous Ty Coon.”

“What were you doing over at the Finches’?” Macey asked, sipping her coffee. “And how come you didn’t stop by?”

“I was making a delivery . . . and I didn’t stop by because I’d just seen you at church.”

Harper frowned. “What kind of delivery?”

“We had another incident with the chickens, and we ended up with an orphaned baby fox, so I brought it to Mrs. Finch.”

“Oh, no,” Macey said, eyeing her sister. “What happened?”

“Did Gage kill its mother?” Harper asked, looking horrified.

Maeve nodded. “He had to, Harp,” she explained. “She was attacking his chickens, and she was going to keep coming back.”

“That’s so sad,” Harper said, shaking her head.

“It is,” Maeve agreed, “and I wasn’t going to tell you, but I thought you might hear it from Sam, and then I’d be in trouble. Fortunately, Gage was able to catch her baby, and Mrs. Finch said she would release it when it gets a little older.” She blew on a spoonful of her grits, and commented, “She has quite a menagerie over there—two baby possums, a baby owl, a baby robin, and a whole host of other little critters.”

“Yeah, everyone says she has a very gentle way with them,” Macey said, sipping her coffee. “They say she’s an animal whisperer.”

“Sam’s an animal whisperer, too,” Harper said, and then looked at her mom. “Can we stop by and see the baby fox on the way home from Sea Camp today?”

“Maybe,” Macey said. “I’ll have to call her and ask. If she’s planning to release it back into the wild, she probably doesn’t want it to have too much interaction with humans.”

“I know,” Harper said hopefully. “I don’t want to hold it. I just want to see it.”

“I’ll ask her,” Macey assured her daughter, who she knew loved animals. She turned to Maeve. “So, are you guys going to Mom and Dad’s tomorrow?”

“We are,” Maeve said. “You?”

“Yep. Hopefully, we’ll both get out of work on time.”

“How are things at the germ center?” Maeve teased.

“Germy as ever . . . and busy! Lots of back-to-school physicals and inoculations. I can’t believe school starts again in less than a month. Seems like they just got out.”

Maeve nodded. “Summer’s flying by, per usual.” She eyed Harper. “And how is Sea Camp?”

“It’s awesome! Monday, we studied sea turtles; Tuesday, we studied dolphins; Wednesday, we studied plankton . . . and today, we’re studying sharks!”

“Nice!” Maeve said. “And how are afternoons with Grandma and Grandpa?”

“Great!” she said. “I’ve beaten Grandpa at checkers every day this week.”

Macey laughed, remembering how merciless their father had been when they’d played board games. “Are you sure he’s not letting you win?”

Harper frowned. “No way. He said I’m the best checker