Okay, alotdistracted.
We had to scramble into our clothes when a scientist came down the road to check the weather station. We sped back to Phoenix and arrived at Kelly’s room just as her doctor was leaving.
“What’s the verdict?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light, even though my heart pounded against my chest. “Is my sister crazy?”
“We don’t like to call anyone crazy these days, Miss Crawford,” he said with a kind voice. “But the answer is no.I’ve assessed Kelly and I don’t believe she’ll continue to be a danger to herself, provided she gets the support she needs from the good people in her life, like you. Her grief over the loss of her parents, coupled with feelings of abandonment has created escalating levels of stress she didn’t think she could handle.”
Feelings of abandonment.Shame burned in my chest. I’d never meant to abandon Kelly, but that was exactly what I’d done. I hoped what I was about to do now would make up for the horrible way I’d neglected her.
The doctor patted Kelly’s arm, and she smiled. “I’ve prescribed Kelly some mild sedatives to help her sleep, and given her a recommendation to a great psychiatrist. As long as she makes some lifestyle changes, she should be okay.”
“That’s it?” I was half relieved, half incredulous. She obviously hadn’t told him anything about Uncle Bob, which I could understand. But even so, my sister tried to kill herself and they were just letting her go? How did I knowfor certainshe was cured? “She can go home?”
The Doctor nodded. “Kelly says she has a good support network in you and her community. Counselling will help her deal with her grief in a healthy way. Psychologically I’m not seeing any underlying issues. Just take things easy and look after each other.”
“Don’t worry, Doc. I’m not going anywhere.” I wrapped my arms around Kelly.
The doctor nodded again and left us alone.
I squeezed Kelly extra hard. “Did you hear that? You’re going to be okay.” But then I had a flash of her face from yesterday and my heart plummeted again. “Aren’t you?”
“Don’t think about it.” Kelly hugged me. “I’m going to be fine now. This isn’t what I want for myself. I just wanted to escape that house and I…I think I scared myself as much as I scared you guys.”
“I doubt that.”
“I should have just told you what was going on. I should have told someone, or gone to the police. But I was just so scared and broken. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You weren’t thinking. You were in pain.“ I gestured to Arthur. “This is the guy who told me that you have to forgive yourself for all the stupid things you do while you’re grieving. Listen to him. He’s pretty smart. But you totally should have told me, because I would have been here much sooner to fix things for you. But, better late than never.”
She looked at me with wide eyes and I grinned.
“Maeve, what did you do?”
“Nothing.” I beamed at her, even though my insides turned at the memory of the flames. “But you’re not going to have any problem getting out from under Uncle Bob and Aunt Florence. They’ve agreed not to stand in the way of you petitioning for emancipation, so you don’t need a guardian.”
“Emancipation?” Kelly’s smile lit my heart. “I can do that?”
“You sure can, and no one is going to stop you. Uncle Bob has even left a little parting gift in your bank account.”
Kelly grabbed her phone and tapped frantically. Her eyes bugged out of her head when she saw the number.Yes!At least Uncle Bob could follow instructions. “No way. How did this happen?”
“I can be very persuasive when my sister’s happiness is at stake. With that money, you can go anywhere and do anything,includingcollege. But I think you should come back to England with me.”
“You mean it?”
“Have you ever known me to say something I didn’t mean? It just happens that I own this huge castle with heaps of rooms, and with five guys living there, I could use a break from all the testosterone. What do you say?”
“Eeeee! You’re the best!” Kelly reached up and embraced me. Her fruity scent invaded my nostrils, and that lump rose in my throat once more. I hugged her back, my arms heavy with the weight of what I did and the love I felt for her. I glanced up at Arthur. As I predicted, he looked pretty concerned.
What am I supposed to do?I mouthed at him. It was my job to look after Kelly. No way was I leaving her behind again.
Arthur nodded his understanding, but he didn’t look convinced.
“So,” I pulled back. “Arthur and I are staying in America for as long as you need us. We’re here to look after you. Where do you want to go first?”
Kelly grinned. “Happy’s, please. After three days of hospital food, I amdyingfor a cheeseburger.”
My stomach clenched at her words, but I struggled to keep an even face. “Mind your Freudian slips, girl, or I’ll rescind my offer. I have half a brownie cake in the car for you, but I guess you can get your own. After Happy’s, we’ll grab a hotel, and then find a lawyer and start the emancipation process.”
