“About that,” Presley said. “I’m supposed to let Chuck know when you’re awake. He needs to ask you some questions and get your statement.”
“Um …” Ariel said and looked around the room before her eyes found me. “What am I supposed to say?”
“Tell them what happened?” I looked at Presley for help, unsure why Ariel was asking me.
“You told me to be careful about what I said,” Ariel said.
I chuckled nervously as all eyes were on me. “I was referring to the assumptions you were trying to verify, not about what happened. Tell Chuck everything you can remember about that.”
“Yeah,” Presley said knowingly. “He’s right. Tell Chuck what you remember. We’ll talk about everything else later.”
“Okay.”
“Oh! I need to call Jake and tell him you’re awake,” Presley said, reaching for her phone.
Ariel closed her eyes and tilted her head back. “Mom, please don’t.”
Presley paused and studied her daughter before she nodded and slipped her phone into her pocket. “Can I ask why?”
“You may,” Ariel and I said at the same time.
“Blame my mother for that,” I said when Presley glared at me.
“Why don’t you want me to call Jake?” Presley asked gently.
“Can we talk about it later when we talk about everything else?”
I wasn’t going to correct her, but I chuckled when Presley snapped her fingers and pointed at me, thinking I was, as she answered Ariel. “Yes, but I think we should at least let him know you’re awake and doing okay. He’s been here or at the hotel since Friday.”
A few tears rolled down Ariel’s cheeks when she closed her eyes again, causing me to—in the words of Alice—put my protective pants on.
“That’s fine, but I don’t want to see him.”
“Do I need to go speak with him?” I asked, ignoring the growing ache in my head.
“No,” Ariel said softly. “He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Wait a minute,” I said, cupping the back of my head. “Why wasn’t he with you?”
“You need to sit down,” Presley said sternly. Damn, I lovedBossy Nurse. “And don’t get upset.”
“I didn’t tell him I left school early because I didn’t want to see him,” Ariel blurted. “He has a girlfriend.”
“And it isn’t me,” she whispered.
I pulled my phone from my pocket as I took my seat. “I’ll text Jake,” I told Presley.
“Afternoon, folks,”Chuck said when he arrived after lunch. “I’m assuming everyone knows why I’m here.”
“We do. Please, come in,” Presley said.
Chuck nodded to the room as he walked to Ariel’s bed. “First, how are you feeling?”
“My head hurts, but I’m okay,” Ariel said modestly.
“Are you sure?” he asked sincerely. “I can come back when you’re more comfortable.”
“No,” Ariel said and repositioned herself in the bed. “I’d rather be done with it.”
