Элизабет Чандлер: Evercrossed

ʺWe should let Will visit you now,ʺ her mother said. ʺHeʹs been very upset. Ivy.

He saw your car before they towed it. In some ways, I think this was more frightening for him than for you.ʺ

ʺYes, I can see how it might be,ʺ she said. ʺWould you ask him and Beth to come in?ʺ

ʺTogether?ʺ her mother asked, sounding a little surprised.

ʺSure.”

As soon as Maggie and Philip left, Beth rushed into the room and threw her arms around Ivy. Then she pulled back. ʺAm I hurting you?ʺ Ivy hugged her. ʺThereʹs nothing to hurt.ʺ Will came in quietly behind Beth. Glancing past Beth, Ivy smiled at him.

“I canʹt believe youʹre okay,” Beth said, gently touching Ivy just above her temple, In the car, when I looked over at you. She shuddered. ʺI wish I could get that picture out of my head. I–I donʹt see how I could have imagined it.ʺ

Ivy looked into Bethʹs eyes, wanting to know what Beth had seen and longing to tell her what she had experienced. Had Beth, who was psychic, sensed something? Ivy wanted Beth to confirm that Tristanʹs embrace had been more than a dream, but Bethʹs eyes were clouded with confusion and worry.

ʺBeth, you look worse than I do,ʺ Ivy observed. ʺAre you okay?ʺ ʺYeah, sure.ʺ

ʺI donʹt remember anything from the ER. They checked you over, didnʹt they?ʺ

Beth nodded. ʺItʹs just a minor concussion.ʺ

ʺBut a major headache,ʺ Will said, speaking at last. ʺIʹm trying to get her to take it easy.ʺ

He was standing behind Beth, looking at Ivy over Bethʹs shoulder. Could he see it in her eyes? Did he guess that, more than ever, she was thinking of Tristan?

Maybe not, Ivy thought, and reached for Willʹs hand. He reached back, cradling her hand in both of his. Ivy knew Willʹs hands by heart, long‐fingered and strong, almost always flecked with paint. She loved his hands.

ʺYou scared the heck out of me/ʹ Will said, his voice shaking.

ʺOh, Will, Iʹm so sorry.ʺ

He moved forward and slipped his arms around her, holding her ever so carefully.

ʺHey, Iʹm not breakable. I think Iʹve proven mat,ʺ she said, holding him tight.

She started to cry, not knowing all of the reasons why. Will wiped away her tears lovingly, as he always had.

ʺIʹll always be with you/ʹ Tristan had said. He had meant it — she felt his promise as if it were inscribed on her heart. But had Tristan healed her only to send her with his blessing back to Will? Ivy reached for the tissue box. ʺNurse Andy thinks of everything. Help yourselves.ʺ

ʺDonʹt mind if I do,ʺ Beth replied, wiping her cheeks. She and Ivy blew their noses and honked at the same time, which made all three laugh out loud. ʺI guess your mother brought the robe.ʺ They laughed again.

A crisp knock was followed by Andy poking his head through the partially closed door of the hospital room.

ʺOkay, wonder girl/ʹ he said, pushing a wheelchair into the room. ʺIʹm sending home your fans. Youʹre wanted in CT world.ʺ He patted the chair.

Ivy hugged Beth and Will once more. ʺGet some sleep, okay?ʺ

ʺIʹll be back this after—ʺ

ʺIʹll probably be asleep,ʺ Ivy interrupted Will. ʺAfter youʹve had some rest, if you want to do me a big favor, entertain Philip.ʺ

ʺIf thatʹs what you want,ʺ Will replied, looking alittle hurt.

ʺThank you. Will.ʺ

When they had left, Ivy turned to Andy, who was pointing to the wheelchair. ʺI prefer to walk.ʹ ʺSorry, itʹs against the rules.ʺ ʺBut I feel great!ʺ she insisted. ʺI could walk and bike for miles.ʺ

“Then if no one is looking, Iʹll let you do wheelies.ʺ

Ivy laughed. ʺYeah, yeah. Letʹs roll.ʺ

I WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU, IVY… ALWAYS WITH you…I will alwaysʺBe with you in a minute,ʺ Ivy heard a nurse calling to a patient. She quickly opened her eyes, read the time on the hospital clock—4:12 p.m. — then dropped her head in her hands. It was happening again: For months after Tristan had died, each time Ivy awoke from a happy dream of him, she ached as if she was losing him for the first time.

Just now, she had been dreaming. Ivy knew that. But not last night, she thought.

Last night had been different — it had felt real. ʺHey, Wonder Girl!ʺ The door of Ivyʹs room banged back. ʺThatʹs what theyʹre calling you,ʺ Kelsey said, entering the room, followed by Dhanya, who was carrying a shopping bag.

ʺHi, Ivy.ʺ Dhanyaʹs voice was soft and worried sounding.

ʺOhmygod!ʺ Kelsey exclaimed when she saw Ivyʹs pink robe flung across the wheelchair next to her bed. ʺIt was a gift from my mother,ʹ Ivy replied.

Kelsey held it up and Dhanyaʹs look of concern melted into a suppressed giggle.

Ivy grinned. ʺThereʹs a matching gown in the closet/ʹ she said, swinging her feet over the side of the bed.

ʺIʹll get ft,ʺ Dhanya offered quickly.

ʺIt feels good to walk,ʺ Ivy told her.

ʺOh, Ivy, Iʹm so sorry! I should never have called Beth for a ride. Iʹm responsible for what happened to you. I feel so bad. You could have been killed. If s my fault.

If I hadnʹt—ʺ ʺWait a minute, listen to me,ʺ Ivy interrupted Dhanya. ʺYou were right to call Beth. You and Kelseyʺ—she paused, forcing Kelsey to meet her eyes and acknowledge she had a major part in this —ʺare responsible for drinking and getting drunk. But not the accident. You didnʹt cause the accident. Okay?ʺ

Dhanya nodded, a large tear rolling down her cheek.

ʺDhanya, I wish youʹd save that for tonight,” Kelsey said. ʺAunt Cindy put Dhanya and me on probation,ʺ Kelsey explained to Ivy, ʺand scheduled a parent conference on Skype.ʺ

She opened the closet, then whistled.” Dhanya, this outdoes your Disney Princess gowns.ʺ Dhanya blushed.

ʺYouʹve seen the Disney bridal gowns, havenʹt you. Ivy ^Kelsey asked. ʺDhanya doesnʹt have a boyfriend, but she keeps trying to decide which dress sheʹs going to wear when she gets married.ʺ ʺBack off, Kelsey,ʺ Dhanya said quietly. Kelsey pulled the gown off its hanger and held it up. ʺWant to try this on?ʺ she teased her friend.

ʺNo,ʺ Dhanya replied crisply. ʺWhy donʹt you?ʺ Kelsey pulled off her T‐shirt and dropped her shorts — she was wearing her bikini underneath— then slipped the nightgown over her head. Built like Serena Williams, she looked both awesome and funny.

Let’s go to the solarium,ʺ Kelsey said. ʺPut on the robe and we can pretend weʹre twins.ʺ Or wear this one,ʺ Dhanya said, opening her shopping bag and pulling out Ivyʹs light green robe. ʺThank you,” Ivy replied gratefully, slipping her arms through its sleeves. Kelsey dug in the pocket of the shorts she had just taken off and retrieved her cell phone. “I’m ready.ʺ

Ivy sat in the chair as Dhanya pushed and Kelsey walked beside it wearing her bikini and the filmy gown, waving to people in their rooms, then waving at the staff gathered around the nursesʹ station as if she was the queen of a homecoming parade. Ivy couldnʹt help but laugh.

The solarium, past double doors at the end of the hall, was a quiet oasis away from hospital chatter and beeping machinery. Filled with sunlight rather than the cold fluorescence of the medical areas, its wicker chairs, ferns, and pots of red geraniums made Ivy feel as if she was sitting on someoneʹs porch.

Weʹve got the place to ourselves,ʺ Dhanya said. ʺBy the window?ʺ ʺPerfectʺ

Dhanya parked the wheelchair then pulled a small white rocker closer, arranging herself as prettily as a cat. Kelsey stretched out on a curvy wicker lounge and checked her phone.

ʺSo let me fill you in on the guys weʹve met/ʹ Kelsey said to Ivy after a moment of thumb flexing. ʺThink gorgeous and rich.ʺ ʺOkay.ʺ m.