Chapter 4
A shadow passed over his face.
“Yes,” he murmured. “I suppose she would.”
There it was again.
Something in the way he spoke about Grace.
Not like a stranger.
I put down my spoon.
“How do you know her?”
Arthur looked at me.
For the first time since we entered the house, he seemed uncertain.
Then the telephone rang.
He answered immediately.
“Helen?”
His posture changed as he listened.
“What did you find?”
I stood.
Annie stood too.
Arthur held up one hand.
“No, they’re here with me.”
A pause.
“Yes.”
Another pause.
“Then bring her in.”
My stomach tightened.
“Bring her where?”
Arthur ignored me for a moment.
“Yes. I understand.”
He hung up.
“What happened?” I demanded.
“Your sister is dehydrated and has a fever.”
“Is she going to the hospital?”
“Dr. Mercer believes she should be examined properly. She’s arranging transportation.”
“We have to go.”
Arthur nodded.
“I’m taking you.”
Twenty minutes later, we were in the back seat of a black sedan that looked too polished for children with dirt on their shoes.
Arthur sat beside us instead of in front.
Nobody talked much.
When we reached St. Matthew’s Medical Center, Grace was already inside.
A nurse led Annie and me into a waiting room while Arthur spoke quietly with someone near the desk.
I hated waiting rooms.
They made every minute seem important.
Annie sat beside me, swinging her feet without touching the floor.
“Do you think Grace is mad?”
“At us?”
“For leaving.”
“She’ll be mad after she feels better.”
Annie considered this.
“That’s good.”
I understood what she meant.
If Grace had enough energy to be angry, then she was getting better.
Arthur returned holding two paper cups of water.
“Dr. Mercer says your sister has a respiratory infection and significant dehydration. They’re giving her fluids and medicine.”
“Is she going to be okay?”
“Yes.”
He answered quickly enough that I believed him.
My shoulders loosened for the first time all day.
“Can we see her?”
“Soon.”
He sat in the chair across from us.
Without the mansion around him, Arthur looked smaller.
May you like
Older too.
He turned his wife’s ring slowly between his fingers.
