Chapter One
Halfway up the driveway Andrew’s ringtone brought her to a stop. Cassie had just spoken with him the day before, and he didn’t usually call again so soon. She threw the rental into park and rummaged in her bag, trying to grab her phone before he disconnected. Once he was gone, she’d never get him back.
“Mom?” His voice was wobbly, and she knew in an instant something was wrong. Her mind raced through a dozen scenarios: he was hurt, sick, in trouble. All kinds of misfortune could befall a kid away at college.
“Sweetie,” she said, her heart suspended, “what’s going on?”
“The frat had a party last night…”
“Okaay.” She waited. Nothing good could be coming.
“It kinda got out of hand. People were drinking and stuff, and…um…a kid fell and hit his head.”
“Oh Andrew.” Her stomach lurched in a sickening way. Those damn fraternities with the drinking culture. Worse in New Orleans, where it was always a big party. “Is he all right?”
“I don’t know. He’s in the hospital.”
“Did you see it happen?” She felt ill at the thought of this poor boy, hurt so badly he’d landed in the hospital. Then a shameful rush of relief that it wasn’t her son.
“A few of us were goofing around. I didn’t see him fall, but he hit his head on the tile floor.” He sounded like he was about to come apart, and she wanted to wrap him in her arms like when he was little. Only he was nineteen and thirteen hundred milesaway. “Were you drinking too?” she asked without much hope. Of course he’d been drinking. Things like that didn’t happen when kids were sober.
“A little. I mean, yeah, a lot, actually. Campus police came, then they called New Orleans P.D.”
A gust of fear blew through her. He had no idea. “Did you talk to the police? No one pushed him, right?”
“No, no one pushed him. He just fell. But they took statements from all of us.”
“Andrew.” She tried to keep her voice calm so she wouldn’t upset him further. “Why didn’t you call Dad or me right away? You shouldn’t have said anything to the police without an attorney. One of us could have flown down.”
“I realize that now, but it happened so fast, and they said they just needed to find out what happened. I didn’t do anything. It was an accident.” A hint of defensiveness, like maybe there was more to it. But she couldn’t think of that right now. The immediate issue was her son could be in legal jeopardy.
“If they’re questioning you, you need a lawyer.” A boy was seriously hurt, maybe brain damaged. The police or the university could be looking to set an example. “I’ll come right down. I’m sure I can get a flight tonight or tomorrow. Where are you now, at the frat house?” She’d call Shelly and let her know what was happening. Dad would be all right for a few more days until she settled things with Andrew.
“No, don’t come.” He’d pulled himself together a little. “There’s nothing you can do. If the police want to talk to us again, I’ll say I want a lawyer. I won’t do anything without talking to you or Dad first.”
“I think I should come down there.”
“Mom, no. Don’t come.”
“Are you sure? I hate the thought of you dealing with this all alone.” Every maternal instinct told her to get on a plane, butshe didn’t want to be a helicopter parent either, swooping in at the first sign of trouble. He needed to learn to deal with the consequences of his actions.
But still. He was her son.
“Yeah, I’m sure. It’s better if you don’t come.”
“You could stay with me in a hotel for a few days, get out of that frat house.” She’d had reservations about Tulane, but Phil had gone there and Andrew had grown up hearing about the French Quarter and Mardi Gras and Phil’s frat buddies, who were still his best friends. She’d tried to interest him in other schools, but there was never a question of Andrew going anywhere but Tulane.
“Mom!”
“All right. Okay.” She gave way reluctantly. “But let me know what’s happening and how that poor boy is doing. And for God’s sake Andrew, if the police contact you or there’s any disciplinary action from the university, I want to know right away. Understand? This was beyond stupid of all of you.”
“I know. I understand.” He sounded contrite. He was basically a good kid, had never been in any real trouble before. She knew drinking and carousing went on in the fraternity, but this was serious.
“I love you,” she said, a hitch in her voice. “It’ll be okay, we’ll get through this.”
“I love you too,” he mumbled.
She stowed her phone but couldn’t banish the feeling he hadn’t told her something. Even with all the drinking, how would a boy fall and hit his head like that?She left the car and walked into the field, zipping her jacket against the brisk spring breeze. Her parents had more than a grassy lawn. The Lindens had five full acres with stone walls that dated to colonial times. And just across the street was another twenty acres of undisturbed woods that had never been developed.Her parents, refugees from the city, where it was hard to come by a tree, had fallen in love with all that open space. But to Cassie, it had always felt oppressive. Too much green. She much preferred Manhattan, where trees were tidily contained along the sidewalk, and even if you hated your neighbors, at least they were in the building.
