i turn to her , my hands on my hips , and pierce her with my gaze . swallowing past her thick throat , she pushed herself down the walk , up the steps and onto the porch . what if my babies grow up without a mother ? how , he wondered even as he ran across the roof , had he not seen it before ? catfish called , cant you turn that thing off ? she released a laughing scream when he grabbed her by the waist and spun her around . 