I had no children. I had planned on never giving birth to kids because I didn’t know if this premonition problem was hereditary. Now I knew. It solidified things for me even more. I would not wish this premonition monster on anyone. However, it was not beyond my imagination to understand how traumatizing it would be to lose a child and how hopeful she and Johnny would be, waiting for my reply.

I took a deep breath the next morning. Okay. I was ready.

* * *

Dear Betsy,

Thank you for your letter. There is so much to say, I don’t know what to say.

I would like to meet you, Johnny, Kayla, and Tilly.

When is convenient for you?

Sincerely,

Evie

“You haven’t read a book in five years?” I stared aghast at the woman in front of me. She was in her early thirties.

“I have six kids. I’ve been knocked up for years.” She pushed brown curls off her face. Her hair was long and messy. “My husband has the kids back at our campsite. I’m supposed to be shopping for groceries. One is two years old and has such volcanic temper tantrums he passes out. Neat trick. Two of them are twins. They’re four. They’re awful. It’s like watching a crime family develop as they deliberately plug the toilets.

“One is six, and she insists on dressing like a frog and hops around every day. She won’t answer unless I call her Froggy Frieda. The eight-year-old is mouthy. She’s going to be a wild-ass teenager and give me white hair. The ten-year-old wanders off like he’s some freakin’ explorer and I have to find him. He brings a magnifying glass and a toy bow and arrow with him. Who does he think he is, a hunting scientist? My husband keeps wanting to have sex with me. I don’t want to have any more sex. Look what happens when we do. Now do you see why I haven’t read?”

I calmed down. Whew. She had an excuse for not reading. This was not the usual circumstance of choosing not to read because you have nothing in the way of a curious brain.

“Okay. You have a decent excuse, so I won’t be mad at you. What do you want to read?”