Jessica Verday: The Hidden

The nurse peeked back in. “I hope I can trust you two alone in here. She needs her rest, mister.” She directed a steely gaze at Ben.

“Oh, we’re not-,” I said at the same time as Ben said, “I’m not-”

“Mmm-hmm.” She looked back and forth between us. “That’s what they all say.”

I rolled my eyes at Ben when she left, and he laughed. “Awkward.”

“Yeah.”

He shifted from foot to foot, then hastily laid the flowers on the edge of the bed.

“Thanks,” I said. “And thanks for coming to see me.” My eyes landed on the baby tree. “And thanks for the other gift too.”

He followed my gaze. “It’s from my dad’s farm. He just bought some new seedlings. It’s supposed to flower.”

I could tell that Caspian was trying very hard not to look at Ben, and it made me want to tease him. “Why don’t you sit down?” I said, pointing to the open seat next to Caspian.

Ben sat. Glancing back at the door, he volunteered, “Hospitals really freak me out.”

Caspian slowly inched away from him, and said, “They’re starting to make me pretty uncomfortable too.”

I tried not to laugh, and just replied, “You should try being on this end.”

Ben’s expression suddenly changed from nervousness to anger. “I can’t believe that someone broke into your house, Abbey. I should have walked you in. Made sure everything was okay before just driving off like that.”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference,” Caspian said to Ben, even though he knew his words would go unheard. Then he turned to me and said, “There’s no telling what Vincent would have done to him.”

I nodded solemnly, but spoke to Ben. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have known what was going to happen.”

“But I feel so bad. And now there’s this crazy guy out there who hurt you, and if I had just been able to stop him, you wouldn’t be here.”

“There was nothing you could have done,” I told him. “It’s not your fault. End of story.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Now, can we talk about something else? Like what happens if we end up as science fair partners again this year?”

Ben laughed. “I’m counting on it, Browning. In fact, I think I’m going to slip Mr. Knickerbocker a twenty to make sure it happens. Since you bailed on me last year, you have a lot to make up for.”

The nurse knocked on the door again, then entered. “Your parents are on their way, dear. You’re being discharged.”

Ben stood up.

“I’ll see you at school, right?” I said to him.

“Yup. Seniors, baby.”

He left right before Mom came back in, but I could see the gleam in her eye even though I was halfway across the room. “Ben came to visit?” she said.

I nodded.

“Well, isn’t that nice of him.”

Dad drove twenty miles per hour under the speed limit on the way home and constantly kept looking back at me in the rearview mirror. It was making me crazy.

“It’s okay, Dad,” I called from the backseat. “You actually can drive, you know.”

He gave me a worried look in the mirror again. “I know, honey, but I just want to make sure I don’t jostle you.”

I sighed. “I’m fine, Dad. Driving at the speed limit so we can get home at a decent hour isn’t going to kill me.”

His face paled.

“Sorry,” I said. “Bad choice of words.”

Caspian was next to me, and I leaned my head back against the seat. This is going to be worse than when I came home from Dr. Pendleton’s. At least then everyone just thought I was crazy. Now they were treating me like I was as fragile as glass.

Dad turned onto a side road, and our house came into view. A giant banner that said WELCOME HOME, ABBEY! was hanging over the front door.

“Oh, jeez,” I muttered.

“Party time,” Caspian said. “I hope they have those little blower things that make noise.”

His comment made me laugh, and I had to cover it with a fake cough. Dad came to a stop, and Mom opened my door for me. “Let me help you,” she insisted. “You could still be woozy and not even know it until you stand up.”

The doctors had put my arm in a sling because of a sprain. Since I wasn’t used to not being able to use my hand, I put my free arm around her neck, and Caspian slipped out behind me.

“I’m so glad you’re home,” Mom said, steering me into the house. “I’m taking a few days off work so I can be here with you.”

I wanted to argue that I was seventeen, not five, but I didn’t have the heart. “I should probably go up to my room and rest for a while,” I said. She nodded, and then escorted me up the stairs. Caspian followed us.

As soon as we entered my bedroom, I noticed that it was different. Gone were the spilled perfumes and broken glass bottles that Vincent Drake had strewn across the floor, yet a smell still clung faintly to the air. I could tell that Mom had probably sprayed some cleaner, because a lemony scent was there too-the unmistakable odor of wood furniture polish-but it didn’t mask the reminder of destruction entirely. A burgundy wingback chair sat in the corner where my perfume cabinet had been. I recognized it as a remnant from the attic.

The red roses that Vincent had placed around the room were cleaned up by Uri and Sophie, but all I had to do was close my eyes to see them again. And to see Vincent lying on my bed, dressed in a black funeral suit, his hair white-blond like Caspian’s, even down to the black streak …

Mom put a hand on my shoulder. “Is everything okay?” she asked. “You don’t have to sleep in here if you don’t want to. I can make up the guest room.”

“It’s okay, Mom. I’ll be fine.” I purposefully went over to my bed and sat down on it. I didn’t want the memory of Vincent to drive me away from here. This is my room. Not his.

Mom came over too, and moved the pillows around, stacking them one on top of the other. Then she turned back one edge of the covers, folding it and unfolding it again.

I caught her hand and held it. “I’m fine , Mom.” I forced a brave smile. She had no idea what had really happened here, and I wasn’t going to let on.

“Is there anything that I can get you?” she said. “Anything you need?”

“Nope. But thanks for the offer.”

She looked at me for a long time without saying anything, her eyes wide and kind of glassy. Then she leaned forward and kissed my forehead before standing up. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll wake you when dinner’s ready.”

“Okay, Mom.” I kept the smile on my face until she left the room, then I slumped against the bed and let out a little sigh. My arm ached, and I lifted the sling with a sad little wave at Caspian. He sat down beside me.

“Hurt myself,” I said.

“I see. Looks like you’re going to need an extra hand.”

“Know any takers?”

“By your side like glue.” He grinned at me, but his eyes were sad.

I wanted to take away the sadness that was there. Make it disappear and have it never return. “What I told Ben goes double for you, you know. It’s not your fault.”

He ran a hand through his hair and looked away. “Yeah, but unlike Ben, it is my job to protect you. Or at least … to do the best that I can. I can’t believe I let that happen.” He smacked his fist against his open palm as he spoke. “Vincent attacked you, and now you’re here, like this, and I’m …”