Kevin O'Brien - One Last Scream

Amelia was practically sleepwalking as they started up the front walkway together. Karen kept an arm around her, almost holding her up. Before they even reached the front stoop, Jessie opened the door and Rufus scurried out. Whining, he excitedly nudged Karen’s leg with his snout over and over. She petted him and scratched him behind the ears. Amelia petted him, too. His tail wagging, Rufus seemed to lap it up. Only twenty-four hours before, he’d growled and bared his teeth at her twin. Somehow he knew the difference. He let out a happy yelp.

“Hush, Rufus!” Jessie whispered. She wore a blue sweat suit, part of the limited wardrobe she still kept at the house from the days when she’d looked after Karen’s father. Considering what she’d been through the night before, Jessie looked surprisingly rested and fresh.

“Well, you two are a sight for these sore ones,” she whispered, waving them in. Then she put her finger to her lips. “The kids are asleep in the second guest room. George got in at three this morning. He tried to wait up for you, but conked out on the living room sofa.”

She gave Karen a long hug. “Oh, sweetie, thank God you’re okay,” she said, patting her back. “Did you girls get anything to eat?”

“Doughnuts,” Karen murmured. “I think we need sleep more than anything.”

“Your dad caught you on the Channel Five Sunrise News in the lounge at the rest home,” Jessie said. “He phoned here just a few minutes ago. You might want to call him before you hit the sheets, let him know you’re all right.”

Jessie broke away and led Amelia inside the house. “Poor thing, you’re asleep on your feet, just like a horse. I changed the sheets in the guest room for you. There’s even a sound machine in there. You can sleep as long as you want. I’ll try to keep the kids quiet.”

From the doorway, Karen watched Jessie and Amelia go up the stairs. With a sigh, she sat down on the front stoop, and pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She had Sandpoint View Convalescent Home on her speed dial. When they answered at the front desk, Karen asked to be connected to the lounge. She recognized the voice of the nurse on duty there.

“Hi, Lugene, it’s Karen,” she said quietly. “Is my dad there in the TV room?”

“He sure is, Karen. We’ve been seeing you on the news. You’ll have to give out autographs next time you’re here. How are you doing? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but I’m pooped.”

“Well, I’ll get Frank. I know he’s eager to talk to you. By the way, it looks like it’s one of his good days, Karen.”

While Karen waited for her father to get on the line, Rufus wandered over and set his head on her knee.

“Is this my girl?” her father said on the other end. “My famous daughter?”

“Hi, Poppy,” she replied, patting Rufus’s head. “I understand you saw me on the news.”

“Are you all right? Are you home yet?”

“I’m sitting on the front step right now with Rufus. I’m pretty tuckered out.”

“Jessie said that good-looking fellow who was on the news is staying there with his kids. Sounds like you have a full house there. It’s been a while since that’s happened.”

Karen smiled wistfully. “You’re right, Poppy. It’s been a long time.”

“Must feel good,” he said. “Well, I should skedaddle. I have to get dressed. I don’t like going to breakfast in my bathrobe like some of these folks here. We’re having blueberry pancakes this morning. They make very tasty blueberry pancakes here. Get some sleep now, honey. Okay?”

“Okay, Poppy. Have a good breakfast, and I’ll see you soon.”

“My angel,” he said, before hanging up.

Karen waited until Rufus trotted inside, then she quietly closed and locked the front door after him. She heard the shower running upstairs, and knew it was Amelia. Though she felt grimy, Karen wasn’t certain which she needed more, a bed or a bath.

Peeking into the darkened living room, she saw George curled up on her sofa. His shoes were off, and the sports coat he must have used to cover himself had slid down past his hip. Karen went to the hall closet and retrieved her dad’s old robe, the one she still used to cover herself when napping on that same couch. She tiptoed into the living room and gently draped the robe over George. With his slight beard-stubble and that sweet, peaceful expression, he looked so handsome while he slept.

Then his eyes opened, and he took hold of her hand. “I tried to wait up,” he said with a sleepy smile. “Are you okay, Karen?”

Hovering over him, she nodded. “Fine, just tired.”

He squinted at her. “Jody has a bump on his forehead in the exact same place as you do. Sure you’re okay?” He squeezed her hand.

She nodded again.

“Jessie says you and I need to go out to dinner soon and discuss how much overtime we owe her for yesterday and today. I think we should, don’t you?”

Karen smiled and nodded once more.

He brought her hand to his face, and then kissed it. “Thank you for my family, Karen.”

“Karen?” Amelia called from the guest room.

She was just emerging from the bathroom. A waft of steam drifted out the doorway after her. Karen wore her terry-cloth robe and had a towel wrapped around her head. She’d decided to shower before turning in, and was glad now that she had. It felt as if she’d washed away everything from the last twenty-four grueling hours.

Jessie had ducked into Karen’s dad’s bedroom for a catnap. She planned to go shopping in an hour so she could fix breakfast for everybody-bacon, eggs and waffles, the works.

Karen had thought she was the only one still awake in the house.

“Karen, is that you?” Amelia called softly.

The guest room door was ajar. Karen pushed it open and looked in on Amelia.

The shades were drawn, and the sound machine was on. Amelia sat up in bed, wearing one of Karen’s T-shirts. Her dark hair was in tangles from her shower twenty minutes before.

“Can’t you sleep?” Karen asked, padding into the room. She sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I was just lying here, thinking,” Amelia whispered over the sounds of waves and seagulls. “It’ll be nice to spend some time later today with Uncle George, and Jody and Steffie. Ever since Collin died, I haven’t been able to really look them in the eyes. As much as I tried and you tried, I couldn’t quite get over the feeling that I’d killed him. Now I know the truth. After so many months, it’ll be good to look my uncle and cousins in the eyes again.”

Karen reached over and smoothed back Amelia’s tangled hair.

Amelia glanced at a black onyx ring on the night table. Beside it was a worn, faded photo of two identical, dark-haired little girls in overalls. They were smiling and holding hands in the picture.

Amelia sighed. “I realize now what Annabelle went through, and how much she must have suffered.” She shrugged and shook her head. “But I–I can’t cry for her….”

Amelia wrapped her arms around Karen, then rested her head on her shoulder.

“It’s okay,” Karen said, holding her. She knew the tears would come later.

And she would be there to help her through it.