Risking rudeness, I simply lose myself in my own sweatshirt. Good to look like every other tourist, right? By the time I join Joy on the sidewalk, my sunglasses are in place. What I see through them, though, brings me to a dead halt.
It’s a ghost not ten feet away and closing in.
But no. The image in my mind is of a woman who, had she lived, would have been in her late sixties. This girl may have the sameblond hair and gray eyes, the same tall, athletic build, but she can’t be twenty yet.
So no, this person isn’t Elizabeth MacKay. It’s just the power of suggestion in my nostalgic mind, active now that I’m back here for the first time in so long.
The girl smiles—a different smile, I see—and passes us by.
Then my phone rings, and Anne’s name lights up the screen.
Chapter 4
In the space of a heartbeat, I wonder why my sister is calling at this very minute—whether someone did recognize me, even the man with the camera—andwhydidn’t I play it safe and go to the house first? But Joy wanted to stop.
Nope. Can’t blame Joy. I wanted to stop, too.
And besides, it’s done.
“Hey, Annie,” I say casually and brace for her dismay.
Her voice is muted but urgent, and not the words I expected. “Dad fell. He was climbing the ladder to get something from the attic and lost his footing. I’ve told him those steps aren’t safe. I’ve told himsomany times that I cangetthings from the attic for him, all he needs to do is to ask. But he doesn’t listen. When did heeverlisten? He is the most stubborn man—”
“Was he hurt?” I interrupt to ask, and Joy moves closer.
“Broken wrist. It’s a simple break, and at least it’s his left arm, so he can still write and brush his teeth and feed himself. Can youimagine if it’d been his right? I suppose it wouldn’t have been that big a deal, just someone coming in to help him do those things while I’m gone. But his balance isn’t good, Mal. I hear this from tons of people whose parents are starting to age.”
I defer the aging issue. “Have they set it?”
“They’re about to,” she says, clearly at the hospital, hence her muted voice. “They’re giving him a waterproof cast. That’ll be one less worry.”
“Where are you?
“Urgent Care.” She is instantly defensive. “It’s ten minutes from the house—and I knew it wasn’t major, so if you’re thinking I should have gone to Westerly Hospital and waited forever, don’t say it. Twenty minutes was bad enough. Dad kept getting up from his chair and going to the desk to ask when Dr. Cronin would arrive. Remember Cronin? His old PCP? Who died ten years ago?” I didn’t know he had died, just one more thing I had missed, but Anne says, “Dad has the patience of a three-year-old.”
“Is it the Urgent Care at the crossroads?”
There is a short pause, then a cautious, “Yes…” Clearly, she wonders how I know, since it was not there when I left town.
“I’ll be right there.”
“What do you mean?”
“Joy and I are in Bay Bluff.”
Her voice jumps. “You are? Where? Since when?”
“We just got here.”
“At thehouse?”
“No. The square. We couldn’t resist stopping.”
“Why didn’t you say you were coming? I mean, how fair is that, Mallory? You haven’t been home in years and you just show up? The house is a mess. If I’d known, I’d have cleaned, I’d have aired out your room, I’d have been prepared.” Here’s the chastisement, though it sounds more like hurt.
Feeling guilty for that, I say a soft, “I wanted to surprise you, Annie. We can be at Urgent Care in fifteen minutes.”
“It’ll take you eight.”
