Page 62 of The Secrets We Hide
Emmy thought about what Jude had said about safety. She dropped the bed rail. Carefully sat down on the edge of the mattress. Gently took Mandy’s hand.
“Mandy?” Emmy squeezed her hand. “It’s Emmy Clifton. Your mom’s friend from book club.”
Mandy’s lips smacked again. Her eyelids fluttered open. She didn’t look at Emmy. Her gaze traveled to the gun on Emmy’s hip. The star on her chest. When she finally focused on Emmy’s face, there was something like recognition in her eyes.
“There you are.” Emmy smiled as she cupped her hand to Mandy’s cheek. “You’re okay, baby. You’re safe.”
Mandy blinked. A tear seeped from her eye. She tried to raise her hand to wipe it away.
Emmy pulled a tissue from the box. Dabbed away the tear. “How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?”
“Where—” Mandy’s lips quivered. Her voice was a hoarse whisper. “Mama?”
“Your mom asked me to check on you.” Emmy wished like hell she’d asked Jude for a better lie. “I know you’re tired, baby, but do you mind talking to me for a minute?”
“Where—” Mandy coughed. “Where’s Dad?”
Emmy didn’t know if she was asking about Bill because she wanted him or because she was scared he would try to shoot her again. “He’s downstairs. Do you want me to get your dad up here so he can be with you?”
Mandy’s eyes closed. Her breath was more like a sigh of relief. “Please.”
“Okay.” Emmy glanced at Layla. She was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Jude was beside her. “I’m sending someone to bring up your dad, all right?”
Mandy coughed again. “Th-thank you.”
“How about some ice for your throat?”
Mandy turned her head, stuck out her tongue.
Emmy spooned ice into her mouth. She couldn’t help but think about feeding Cole in his highchair. It was a good reminder of all that Mandy had lost. The sixteen-year-old girl floating down the Flint River in a big straw hat with her friends was gone. She was alone now. She would never feel that kind of joyful ease ever again.
Emmy put the spoon back in the cup. She tried to ask a question that would establish a starting point before the shooting. “Baby, do you remember packing your bags to go somewhere?”
Mandy’s eyes closed. She nodded. “Leaving.”
“That’s right. Your mom was taking you out of town.” Emmy held on to the girl’s hand again. “Do you know where you were going?”
Her chin tilted up. She was trying to remember. “No.”
“Do you know why your mom wanted to leave?”
“T-to get away from—” Mandy’s breathing turned ragged. The beeps on the heart monitor came closer together. Her leg moved under the blankets. She pulled at the restraints. “H-have to go. Can’t be here.”
Emmy saw Layla push away from the wall, but still, she tried, “Mandy, who did your mom want to get away from? Was it Woody?”
“N-no …” Mandy gulped for air. She jerked against the restraints. “N-n-not …”
Layla grabbed Mandy’s foot to still her leg. “Mandy. Calm down.”
“Mandy, look at me.” Emmy leaned in closer, put her face close to the girl’s. “I’m here. It’s Emmy Clifton. Your mom sent me to look after you. I’m not going to let anybody hurt you. I promise. Okay?”
Mandy’s eyes narrowed. She focused on Emmy. The recognition was back. She stopped resisting. Her head rested against the pillow.
Emmy waited for Layla’s permission to continue.
“Sweetie, take some more breaths for me,” Emmy coached. “Nice and easy.”
Mandy squeezed her eyes closed until her breathing slowed back to normal. The heart monitor steadied out.
