Lisa Scottoline - Save Me

“It’s worth a try, babe,” Leo said softly, his hand on her back.

“It surely is,” Mo added. “I can give her a lesson when you come up, and there are plenty of schooling barns in Reesburgh. I looked into it online and found you a list.”

Rose felt tears in her eyes, cuddling John close. It was hope, at long last. “Does she want lessons?”

Leo answered, “Ask her.”

“Hit the sack, kid!” Rose tucked Melly into bed, feeling like herself again, having showered and changed into clean clothes. It was twilight, her favorite time at the cabin, when the day was over and they’d go to bed early, in harmony with the rhythms of nature rather than TV or homework.

“It’s cold tonight.” Melly tugged up the comforter, next to Princess Google, already asleep. “Isn’t Ebony so cute, Mom?”

“Very cute.” Rose sat down on the edge of the single bed. The room was bare-bones, containing only a small bookshelf and bureau. A metal reading lamp was clamped to the headboard, and Rose turned it off, leaving them in the dim light from the window.

“Do you really like him?”

“Ebony? Of course. I think he’s adorable and furry. You looked great up there.”

“Harry rides brooms, and I ride horses.” Melly smiled, and Rose gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Do you like riding horses?”

“I love it. It’s so fun, and Ebony is soft, really soft.”

“I remember.” Rose had petted the horse before they’d left, and he’d looked insanely tall, up close. “You know, I was wondering if you want to take riding lessons. Mo says there’s barns around us, at home. Want to give it a try?”

“What do you think?”

Rose fell silent a moment, and through the screen came the scent of horse manure, but that could have been her imagination. She knew if she said the word, it would put a kibosh on this whole crazy venture. Every mother had moments like this, when she could sway things toward what she wanted, and not what her child wanted. Instead, she said, “I think it’s a great idea, Mel. You’re really good at it, and it’s fun and really special.”

“But I don’t know any kids who ride. Nobody in my class does.”

“Kids do it everywhere, like those girls at the barn. You’d have a great time.”

“What if the kids make fun of me, at school?”

“If they do, you can deal with it. If they tease you, try not to let it bother you.” Rose thought of what Mo had said. “Keep your head up and go forward. Tell yourself, trot on. So what do you say? Wanna give it a try?”

“Think I can do it?”

“I know you can, honey,” Rose answered, without hesitation. She heard Leo’s footsteps on the staircase, and turned. “Hey, honey. You up here for another good-night kiss?”

“Leo!” Melly called out. “I’m going to take riding lessons!”

“That’s great!” Leo entered holding John, then leaned close to Rose’s ear. “Phone for you, babe. It’s Eileen, about Amanda.”

Rose walked down the glistening hospital corridor, holding Melly’s hand. Amanda had come out of her coma and been moved from Intensive Care, though she’d developed motor problems in her left arm and was recovering her memory only slowly. Eileen had asked them to stop by on Sunday afternoon, and Rose was hoping it was a good idea.

“You okay, Mel?”

“Fine.” Melly held their gift under her arm. “Are you giving her the present or am I?”

“You decide. You picked it out, but I’m happy to give it to her and say that.”

“I’ll give it to her.”

“Good.” Rose squeezed her hand. “She doesn’t remember everything and she might not look very good, but she’s going to get better, very slowly. She won’t be back at school until the end of the year.”

“Does she remember putting the jelly on her cheek?”

Rose flinched. “I don’t know.”

“Who’s going to be there, visiting her? Any kids from my class? Danielle and Emily?”

“I don’t think so, but I’m not sure.”

Melly fell silent.

“You worried, Mel?”

“I’m trotting on.”

Rose burst into laughter, and Melly giggled, releasing the tension. The hallway was empty, and the air smelled vaguely antiseptic. People talked in low tones in one room, and a football game played on a TV in another. They reached Amanda’s room, where the door was propped open. Rose knocked on the jamb and peeked inside. “Any Gigots around?”

“Rose!” Eileen got up from her chair by the bed, and Amanda was awake under the covers, her head still bandaged and her face pale. She was hooked up to an IV, and her blue eyes were sleepy.

“Hi, Ms. McKenna.” Amanda’s voice sounded weak. “Hi, Melly.”

“So good to see you both.” Eileen came around the foot of the bed, looking relaxed in a sweatshirt and jeans, with light makeup and her hair in fluffy curls.

“I’m so glad Amanda is better.”

“Thanks.” Eileen nodded, her eyes shining, and she looked down at Melly. “Thanks for coming this afternoon. Amanda really wanted to see you.”

“Why?” Melly asked, and Rose tried not to laugh.

“Good question.” Eileen turned to Amanda. “Amanda, why don’t you tell Melly why you wanted to see her?”

“I’m going home in two or three weeks and we’re going to have a big Halloween party. Do you want to come?”

“Okay,” Melly answered, her tone wary. She stepped to the bed and held out the present. “We got this for you.”

“Thanks.” Amanda took the gift with her right hand, though her left arm didn’t move, apparently limp. “My arm and hand don’t work right anymore. My brain didn’t get enough oxygen, and I have to do rehab.”

Rose felt a stab of sympathy, and Eileen moved to help her, but Melly beat her to it, and the two girls began to unwrap the package with much fussing, ripping, and eventually, giggling. Behind them, Eileen and Rose exchanged relieved and happy smiles. Never before had such significance been projected onto the unwrapping of a gift, as if it could lead to world peace.

“Cool!” Amanda became animated, holding up the present, an American Girl book. “Look, Mom. It’s Lanie, my favorite!” She turned to Melly. “Who’s your favorite?”

“Harry Potter.”

Rose hid her smile.

Amanda said, “I like Harry Potter movies. Do you?”

“Yes,” Melly answered. “If you want, I can bring your homework to the hospital. But I can’t do it on Wednesdays because I’m starting my riding lessons.”

Amanda’s eyes widened. “You ride horses?”

“Yes. I ride Ebony.”

“Felicity rides horses. I love Felicity. She’s my old favorite. Lanie is only my new favorite.”

“Who’s Felicity?” Melly asked, puzzled.

“She’s an American Girl, too. She lives in Virginia. I have the DVD at home. You can come over and watch it when I get home, okay?”

“Okay,” Melly answered, cheering. “I never read American Girl but I have one of the books, too. Nicki.”

“Nicki is the one who likes dogs.”

Behind them, Eileen smiled at Rose. “Amanda knows everything about those American Girl books. She knows all the characters. She’s obsessed . You can’t imagine.”

“Uh, yes, I can.” Rose laughed, and Eileen motioned to her.

“Let’s go outside and let them talk, huh?”

“Good idea.” Rose followed her into the hallway, eavesdropping to make sure Melly was okay. The girls began to yammer about Felicity and Hermione, and Rose smiled. “Isn’t that great?”

“Great.” Eileen’s expression grew serious. “But I have to say, in person, I’m really sorry, for everything.”