And so, the next day, Saturday, Faye and Malo decided to visit Ms. Martha’s house.
The poor woman was in the living room, resting on her armchair. She looked thinner than the last time Faye had seen her. Her pale skin looked almost translucent under the dim light, her chest rising and falling in short, rapid puffs that showed just how hard her body was working to keep going.
"I can’t do this," Faye muttered beside Malo. They happened to be standing by the entrance, watching the fragile woman. She clutched the strap of her bag tightly, her eyes widening as a sharp wave of guilt made her heart hammer a fast, painful rhythm against her ribs. "I told her that I was going to bring my pups on my next visit."
"Should I go bring them now? It won’t take long." Malo whispered back. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his own lungs pulling in a tight, anxious breath as he looked at the sick woman.
"No. I don’t want Princess to be worried. They should be with their mama." Faye said instantly.
"Maybe I should start first," Malo said. He looked down at the floor, his shoulders squaring up as a sudden, protective instinct took over his frame.
"Do you know her?" Faye asked, her voice dropping into a tiny whisper as she turned her head toward him.
"Yes. Everyone in this town knows her, that is Martha Lane. She once gave me two loaves of bread and a gallon of milk for me and my siblings. Before I started working for Princess, I used to help her take care of her garden," Malo said, looking at the woman. She happened to be ten times better than his actual birth mom. He had just been standing in front of the convenience store when she saw him and bought a few groceries for him to take home. The memory made his throat feel tight and dry, his breathing turning fast as he remembered the warmth of her kindness during his darkest days.
"Oh... did I know her too? Like before leaving Redwood?" Faye asked. She peeked around his shoulder, her brow furrowing as she searched her own mind for any familiar spark.
"I don’t know. But she is a kind woman and doesn’t deserve to die this young." Malo murmured, his voice cracking slightly as his heart gave a heavy, sad thud.
"But she looks like someone who has accepted death..." Faye whispered back, her chest heaving with a shallow sigh as she watched the still form in the chair.
Before Faye could finish talking, Malo walked over to the woman. He happened to be holding a box of donuts.
"Good afternoon, Auntie. Look who is here... your favorite garden boy," he said in the happiest way possible, trying to bring some positivity into the room. He plastering a massive, bright smile across his face, his voice booming softly in the quiet living room.
"Malone, is this you?" Martha said as a bright smile formed on her face upon seeing her former helper. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, her breathing catching for a second before smoothing out as her wrinkled face completely lit up.
"Yes, Auntie, it is me. You are looking young and beautiful as always." Malo replied smoothly.
"And you look taller." Martha murmured, her frail hand lifting slightly from the armrest as her lungs pulled in a happier breath.
"Hahaha... you’re so funny. Stop it," Malo said as he sat down beside the woman. "Look what I brought... donuts." He lifted the cardboard box with a flourish, the sweet scent of sugar bursting into the air and making his own chest expand with pride.
That is Malo’s gift box... Donuts.
"Are you still eating donuts? You should be eating healthy food so you can grow into a strong boy. Your wolf needs strong protein... Tall as a tree, but still the same size as a twig." Martha teased softly. Her voice was weak, but her eyes had a sharp, knowing glint that made Malo’s smile stretch even wider.
"Hahaha. I am strong. Very strong. You should see me under the full moon. My wolf is bigger than that of an Alpha," Malo said. He puffed out his chest, his breathing turning proud and loud as he gestured wildly with his hands.
"He is lying. That is a very big fat lie. His wolf is not even the size of a rabbit," Faye joined the conversation. She stepped out of the shadows of the doorway, her eyes shining with amusement as her breathing finally leveled out.
"Do not believe her, Auntie. I am bigger than a rabbit. Even a goat cannot be compared to my size. Next full moon, I am going to show you how big my wolf is," Malo said. He shot a playful glare back at Faye, his heart pumping a fast, joyful rhythm as the heavy tension in the room began to lift.
The woman laughed at the way he was talking, her frail shoulders shook with a soft, wheezing sound, her chest rising with a warm, genuine breath that brought a bit of color back into her pale cheeks.
"How are you doing, Ms. Martha?" Faye asked as she leaned down gently, her lips pressing against the cool skin, her lungs pulling in the clean scent of the woman.
"Just the same as always... staying at home all day, waiting for my time," the woman said casually, but both friends didn’t find it funny. The blunt words hit the room like a cold draft, making Faye’s posture lock straight while Malo’s fingers tightened against the donut box.
Malo let out a loud, forced chuckle that rang a bit hollow against the walls, his chest heaving as he tried to push the dark thought away.
"Where are your pups? This is the next time," Martha reminded her. She turned her eyes toward Faye, her gaze full of a soft, yearning hope that made Faye’s stomach twist in an instant knot.
"I’m sorry I couldn’t bring them, but I promise next time I will, for real.." Faye said. She swallowed the hard lump in her throat, her breathing turning short and careful as she made the solemn vow.
Martha smiled. Her thin lips curved into a gentle, accepting line.
"A promise is always a debt."
"Hahaha... this is getting even funnier," Malo laughed again, trying to keep the mood light. He rubbed the back of his neck, his laughter coming out in a fast, nervous stream as his heart raced to keep the conversation from falling into a dark silence.
The two women looked at him awkwardly, and Malo quickly stopped laughing. The absolute silence returned instantly, Malo closing his mouth with a sharp snap and clearing his throat as his lungs let out a quiet, defeated sigh.
"You remember that friend I used to talk about?" Malo said. He shifted on his stool, his voice turning serious as he looked down at Martha’s hands.
"The friend that got away?" Martha asked, her brow lifting slightly in curiosity.
"Yes. That friend... she came back, just like you told me. If that friend was really your true friend, she would come back. Faye Grande is my true friend," Malo said, pointing at Faye... He extended his hand proudly, his breathing turning steady and confident as he made the introduction.
Martha looked at her as though she were seeing someone else.
"You are a Grande? Maye and Julio’s daughter?"