It was Nicks story. Hed just tricked her into writing it. He was an unreliable narrator, if ever shed met one.
Cath wanted to work on her own story now. Not the one for class. Carry On.
Carry On was Caths story. Thousands of people were reading it. Thousands of people wanted her to finish.
This story she was supposed to be writing for class? Only one person cared if she finished it. And that one person wasnt even Cath.
* * *
She fell asleep with her shoes on, lying on her stomach.
When she woke up, it was dark, and she hated that. It was disorienting to fall asleep in the light and wake up in the dark, instead of the other way around. Her head ached, and there was a circle of drool on her pillow. That only happened when she slept during the day.
Cath sat up, miserably, and realized her phone was ringing. She didnt recognize the number.
Hello?
Cather? It was a mans voice. Gentle.
Yes, who is this?
Hey, Cather, its Kelly. Kelly from your dads work.
Kelly was her dads creative director. The panda bear guy. Fucking Kelly, her dad called him. As in, Fucking Kelly is making us start over on the Kilpatricks campaign. Or, And then fucking Kelly got it in his head that the robot should be dancing.
Kelly was the reason her dad still had a job. Every time Kelly switched agencies, he talked Caths dad into following him.
Kelly chalked up all her dads extreme behavior to the creative mind. Your dads a genius, hed told the twins at one Christmas party. His brain was specifically designed to make ads. Hes a precision instrument.
Kelly had a soft, wheedling voicelike he was trying to talk you into something or sell you something, every time he opened his mouth. Have you girls tried the cocktail shrimp here? The cocktail shrimp are amazing.
Hearing Kellys soft-sell voice now sent an unpleasant chill scrabbling up Caths spine.
Hi, she said.
Hey, Cather. Im sorry to call you at school. Its finals week, right? My Connor tells me its finals week.
Yeah, she said.
Look, I got your number from your dads phone, and I just wanted to tell you that hes perfectly okay, hes going to be fine. But hes spending tonightmaybe the next day or twohere at the hospital. Here at St. Richards Hospital
What happened?
Nothing happened, hes okay. I mean it. He just needs to get his balance back.
Why? I mean, what happened? Why did you take him theredid you take him there?
Yeah, I did. I brought him here myself. It wasnt that anything happened. Its just that he was really caught up in work, which you know, we all are. Its a fine line sometimes for all of us but your dad didnt want to leave his office. It had been a few days since hed left his office.
How many days? she wondered. And was he eating? Was he going to the bathroom? Had he shoved his desk up against the door? Had he thrown a stack of ideas out the seventh-floor window? Had he stood in the hallway and shouted, Youre all limp-dicked sellouts! Every one of you! And especially you, Kelly, you fucking brainless hack! Did they have to carry him out? Was it during the day? Did everyone watch?
Hes at St. Richards? she asked.
Yep, theyre just checking things out. Helping him get some sleep. I think thats really going to help.
Im coming, she said. Tell him Im coming. Did he hurt himself?
No, Catherhes not hurt. Hes just sleeping. I think hes going to be fine. Its just been a rough couple of months.
Months. Im coming, okay?
Sure, Kelly said. Im probably going to head home soon. But this is my cell number. You call me if you need anything, okay?
Thank you.
I mean it. Anything at all. You know how I feel about your dad, hes my lucky penny. Id do anything for the guy.
Thank you.
She hung up before Kelly did. She couldnt stand any more.
Then she immediately called Wren. Wren sounded surprised when she answered the phone. Cath cut to the chaseDads at St. Richards.
What? Why?
He lost it at work.
Is he okay?
I dont know. Kelly said he wouldnt leave his office.
Wren sighed. Fucking Kelly?
Yeah.
Dads going to be mortified.
I know, Cath said. Im going up there as soon as I can figure out a ride.
Did Kelly tell you to come?
What do you mean?
I mean, its finals week, and you know that Dad is probably tranqed into oblivion right now. We should call tomorrow and see how hes doing.
Wren, hes in the hospital.
St. Richards isnt exactly a hospital.
You dont think we should go?
I think we should finish our finals, Wren said. By the time were done, hell be just coming out of the haze, and we can be there for him.
Im going, Cath said. Im gonna see if Grandma will come get me.
Grandmas in Chicago.
Oh. Right.
If you really have to do this, I know that Mom would drive you. If its that important to you.
No. Are you kidding me?
Fine. Whatever. Will you call me when you get to the hospital?
Cath wanted to say something mean, like, Id hate to interrupt your studies during finals week. But instead she said, Yes.
She called Reagan next. Reagan had a car; Reagan would understand.