Chapter Eight

Autumn felt tears clog her throat. "What did the doctor say?"

"She said she'd never seen it before. Then she shook her head and said miracles sometimes happened. I didn't think, I told them my mom smiled at me because I was with her and I was singing to her." He sighed. "The doctor looked at me like she thought I was crazy. My father just stood there, crying. I heard the doctor tell my father later he should think about getting me counseling."

Tash is gifted just like I am. I'm not alone.

He whispered, "You believe me? You don't think I'm crazy?"

She said simply, "Tash, you saved me from a broken arm. I owe you big time."

He stared up at her, licking his lips. "What did you just do? You saw what I saw?"

She tamped down her excitement, tried to sound matter-of-fact. "Yes, I could see what you were thinking."

He studied her face as if he suspected she was making fun of him. "B-but that means you were in my mind."

"Sort of. I don't know if I could have seen exactly what happened, but you gave me a very clear picture. If I'd jumped I would have broken my arm and the whole summer would have been a bust. You'd have had to do everything for me—carry my pack and the camping equipment all by yourself, make sandwiches for me, scratch my back if I needed it. So you saved both of us."

A rare smile broke out, a charming little-kid smile, nearly from ear to ear. "But how, Autumn? How?"

He gaped at her. "Really? You know someone else?"

"Good. Don't tell anyone in town about either of us, even if you trust them. Like your dad, most people wouldn't understand, and that makes them afraid and worried."

"There are three of us? Really? In the whole world?"

Another big smile lit up his face. "That would be so cool. No one would make fun of me."

"My right arm thanks you, Tash. If you ever see danger again, you warn me, okay?"

Again, Tash smiled, a blazing smile that lit up his face. "Can you see what I'm thinking now, Autumn? Like before?"