“Yes,” I say, without hesitation. “Delilah McPhee.”
She holds on to me so tightly, our fingers twined together, that I can almost believe we’re one person joined at the hands. “I’ve never felt like this before,” I whisper. “Really, truly scared.”
Delilah looks up at me. “She’s going to be okay, Oliver.”
“But you can’t besure,” I point out. “I thought never knowing what’s going to happen next was a good thing, but I guess that’s not always true.” I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes. “I’m useless.”
“Oliver—”
“I mean it. I didn’t know what to do when I found her. I don’t know anything about doctors or hospitals. If she hadn’t woken up, what would have happened?”
“You would have called me.”
I look at her. “You can’t be there to clean up my messes every time,” I say. “Let’s be honest, Delilah, I’m not Edgar. It’s not going to be long before everyone finds that out.”
The woman in pajamas—no, rather, they’re scrubs, or so Delilah informed me—comes back to the waiting room. “Your mom’s asking for you,” she says, smiling.
Delilah squeezes my arm. “I told you so. I’ll be right here.”
I follow the nurse down the bleached white hallway and enter a room on the right, hesitantly drawing back a pink curtain to reveal Jessamyn, looking small and pale, propped up against pillows. There is a bandage at her temple.
“Mom,” I say, and she holds out her arms.
I fall into them with relief. This is not my mother, but in this moment, she feels like it. “What happened?” I ask, my voice muffled against the spotted nightgown she is wearing.
“I’m fine, Edgar. I fainted, that’s all, and I happened to hit my head on the way down.”
“You fainted?” I say, seizing on the most important words of the sentence. “Why? Are you ill?”
“I was so busy today I completely forgot to eat,” Jessamyn says, dismissing my concern. “Honestly, it was silly and stupid of me. I’m fine.”
“So we can go home now?” I ask. After this day—with the message from the book, and Frump’s arrival, and Jessamyn’s injury—all I want is normal back.
“Well, they have to keep me overnight,” she admits. “It’s protocol.”
“I’ll stay with you,” I say. “I’ll skip school tomorrow.”
“You’re not getting out of class that easily.” Jessamyn smiles. “It’s going to be incredibly boring. Doctors running tests and me watching endless Spanish soap operas. Although . . . how will you get home?”
“Delilah’s in the waiting room,” I say. “She can drive me.”
Her face relaxes as she sinks back against the pillows. “Do you think her mother would let you stay at her house tonight? I’d feel better knowing I don’t have to worry about you being alone.”
“I guess.”
Her eyes drift shut. “Good,” she sighs. “I love you, Edgar.”
I lean down to kiss her cheek, but she is already asleep. “I’m sorry I’m not who you needed me to be,” I whisper, and I slip out of the room.
I stand beside Delilah awkwardly as her mother hands me a stack of towels. “Thanks, Mrs. McPhee,” I say.
“It’s not a problem, Edgar. You’re welcome to stay as longas you need.” She pauses. “And if there’s anything I can do for your mother, just let me know.”
I nod, but I can’t imagine how Mrs. McPhee, who works all day long, would have any time to run errands.
She’s set me up in the guest bedroom, which is three doors down from Delilah’s. I must admit, knowing that she’s going to be so close to me will make it terribly hard to sleep.
“Good night,” Mrs. McPhee says, and as she starts to leave, Frump dashes between her legs and hops up on the narrow bed. “Humphrey!” she scolds. “Down!”
