“Yes.”
“Is he coming back?”
I couldn’t speak, so I just shrugged my shoulders, and shook my head.
Charlie nodded, and I walked around the table, knelt downbeside his chair and hugged him.
In the end I didn’t steal anything, and I didn’t set the police on Mike. I walked Charlie to the closest school bus stop and waved wildly at the bus so it would pick him up. I called Tara and woke her up after her night shift, and asked her for a ride to the hospital.
“What about Mike?” she asked groggily.
“He left. He’s gone.”
“Fucking Mike,” she said.
Yep, fucking Mike.
I had to tell Cassie. I literally dragged my feet, dreading it. I opened the door to her room and said, “Hi. How are you feeling?”
She had replaced her arm over her eyes. “Bad.”
“Can I get you anything? Want to try some toast?”
“No.”
I had to tell her. I drew in a breath.
“Did Mike leave?” she asked.
I wasn’t sure how both Charlie and Cassie had known. “Yes.”
She nodded slightly.
“Cassie…” I trailed off.
“I want to be alone,” she told me. “For five minutes. Leave me alone.”
Tara showed up at about 9:30. Her hair was standing straight on end. “Don’t say it,” she said, gesturing at her head. “Darby used up every drop of conditioner and left me nothing. I look like a porcupine. Do you have any coffee?”
I poured her a cup. “I owe you big for this, Tara.”
She grabbed my chin and looked into my face. “You don’t owe me shit, sister. Got it?”
Tears filled my eyes. “Got it. You’re a good friend.”
“I’m your BFF, and don’t go forgetting it when your boyfriend gets back here with his servants and champagne lifestyle. So, Mike?”
“He left this morning, took the Jeep.”
She slurped a big sip of coffee. “Ah, this is cheap crap. It’s worse than what we have at the hospital. Were you hoping for another result from him?”
“No. Yes, I guess I was. I was hoping…I don’t know. I was hoping he’d leave us the car, at least.”
Tara shook her head. “If we look what he’s done in the past…”
“I know.” I got up to get Cassie and help her down to Tara’s car.
Cassie was so sick after her treatment that day that I didn’t feel like I could leave her and go to work. Reluctantly I let Martha know that I wouldn’t be coming in. Luke had called twice, and when Cassie dosed off I went down to the kitchen to return his call.
