“Emma, we want to talk to you about the accident.” Emma kept her eyes trained on her phone, but Perry saw his words register in the set of her jaw. “The lab tests showed a blood alcohol level. You were drinking?”
Beside him, Amelia drew in her breath. She hadn’t wanted to press Emma about this, but they needed to while it was still fresh. She was home now. It was time to face facts.
“Emma?”
She set her phone down roughly. “I had some beer. Big deal.”
Perry flinched. He’d expected her to be remorseful. Not defiant.
“You’re underage and you were just involved in a serious accident. Thisisa big deal.”
Emma stared straight ahead.
“Have you drunk before?” Amelia ventured.
To Perry’s relief, Emma shook her head. Tears filled her eyes. “No,” she said, burying her face in her hands. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Perry sat down beside her on the bed, a lump growing in his throat. His little girl was still in there. “I didn’t think so. Neither of us did. Which is why we want to know what made you do it that afternoon. Did Uncle Jake offer it to you?” Perry tried to keep his tone neutral, but there was that familiar pang of anger rising inside him.
“It wasn’t Uncle Jake. I mean, it was his beer. But he didn’t exactly give it to me.”
“What does that mean?” Perry asked.
Emma looked between the two of them. “Is this an interrogation?”
“Okay,” Amelia interjected. “Let’s move past that for now. How many did you have? Because your blood alcohol level was too high for just one.”
Emma shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe two? It was hot out, and I was thirsty. I just wanted to try it. Everyone else does.”
Amelia shook her head softly. “It doesn’t matter what everyone else does, honey. We’re talking about you. And making good choices.”
“Well, after what happened, it’s not like I’ll ever do it again,”Emma said, swiping at her eyes. It was a small acknowledgment of her screwing up, and it gave Perry a flicker of relief.
“It’s not your fault,” he assured her. “Your uncle is an adult. He should’ve been paying more attention out there. To you. To what he was doing…” His voice trailed off.
“Can you both please stop now?” Emma asked. Amelia handed her a box of tissues.
Perry wished he could. He wished they would never have to talk about this sort of thing again. But there was one more question. “Honey, I know this is hard, but there’s one last thing I hope you can help us with. This is important. Do you think Uncle Jake was drunk?”
Emma hesitated. “No.” Then, “I don’t know. Maybe.” The only sound in the room was her fingers drumming nervously on her phone case.
Perry glanced at Amelia.
“Can’t you ask the hospital about that?” Emma was waffling, trying to cover for her uncle. He could feel it.
“The reason I ask is because he went straight into surgery after the accident, and they didn’t do a blood alcohol test on him. But we need to know.”
“Why?” Emma snapped. “It doesn’t change what happened. Luci’s hurt. He’s hurt. What difference does it make now?” Her face flushed as she struggled to hold back tears.
Amelia went to her and looked beseechingly at Perry. “It’s okay, honey. We didn’t mean to upset you.” She rubbed Emma’s back in slow circles, and as Perry looked on he felt whatever had been coursing through him slow. “Why don’t you try to get some rest.”
Perry followed Amelia out of the room, feeling worse than he had when they’d gone in.
“At least she told the truth,” Amelia whispered as they went downstairs.
“Yes, but not all of it. She’s hiding something. I think she’s protecting Jake.”
Amelia went to the kitchen and put on a pot of tea. “If that’s true, you know I’ll kill him with my bare hands before you have a chance to.”
