Shane was with me, Claire said, before he could open his mouth again. We look out for each other.
Im sure you do. Oh, let me go see whats keeping your father. I cant believe he hasnt been down for coffee yet; thats a violation of the laws of physics. I know hes awake.
Her mother set the pot back on the coffee machine and left the kitchen, heading for the stairs. Shane leaned over to Claire and said, Does it give you déjà voodoo how alike the houses are?
Thats déjà vu, and I hate you right now.
For narcing on you to your mom? Wait until you hear what I tell your dad. From the sly grin on his face, she knew what he was thinking.
Dont you even think about it.
I could tell him about that time we
Hell, no.
They were whispering, and on the verge of giggles, when a scream cut through the house like the sound of shattering glass. Claire dropped her cup and jumped to her feet, running for the stairs; Shane was just a couple of steps behind her, and caught up quickly on the stairs as he jumped them three at a time.
Claires mom was nowhere in sight, but the door to her dads officewhich was Shanes bedroom in the Glass Housewas open. Claire dashed for it and skidded to a halt in the opening.
Her mother was on her knees.
Her dad was lying on the carpet, looking small and weak and fragile, and she felt absolute terror shoot through her like lightning. Her knees went weak, and she felt Shanes hands close around her shoulders.
Mom? she asked in a small, shaking voice. Then she swallowed, got it together, and hurried the last few steps to drop down next to her parents.
Her mom had her hand pressed to her dads neck, feeling for a pulse, but as badly as her hand was shaking, Claire was sure she couldnt tell even if she found one. She looked up miserably at Shane, who nodded and got on one knee next to her mom. Let me, he said, and gently moved her mothers hand to feel for a pulse with his own, steadier fingers. It seemed to take forever, but he finally nodded. Hes okay. Hes breathing, too. I think he just passed out.
Claires mother was crying, but Claire thought she probably didnt even know she was doing it. She had a frozen, blank expression that Claire thought was scarier than the scream had been. Th-thank you, Shane. I dont think we should move him.
We should turn him on his side, Shane said. Recovery position.
Claires mother looked at him oddly, as if she wondered how exactly he knew all of this. Claire knew, all too well. Hed come home to find his parents passed out a lot, during that nightmare time when theyd been on the road, running from Morganville and memories. Checking for pulse and breathing and making sure they didnt choke on vomit was just a normal thing to do, for him.
Shane rolled her father onto his side and settled him as comfortably as possible, then sat back and said, Better call an ambulance. Youll probably want him to go to the hospital, right? Mrs. Danvers?
She blinked and slowly nodded, then got up and used the desk phone to call 911. While she did, Claire stared down at her dads still, pale face. He looked awful. Now that the adrenaline shock was fading, tears were threatening to drown her, and she didnt want to cry, couldnt cry, not now. Her mom needed her to be strong.
Her dad opened his eyes. His pupils looked huge, but then they shrank back to normal size. Having his eyes open didnt actually make her feel that much better, because he looked at them like they were strangers.
Even Claire.
When he tried to sit up, Shane put a big hand on his shoulder and said, Sir, youd better stay down until the ambulance gets here, okay? Just rest. Do you remember what happened?
Her dad blinked, very slowly, and focused on Shanes face. Do I know you? he asked. He sounded . . . confused. Claires throat went tight and hot, and she choked back tears again.
Yes, sir, Im Shane, Claires boyfriend. We had a talk last week about your daughter.
Claire looked at Shane then, because that was the first shed heard of any talk. Not that it was a bad thing, but she couldnt believe hed gone off and talked to her dad without her. What a . . . medieval thing to do.
Oh, Dad said, and turned his head to look at Claire. Youre too young to be dating, Claire. You should at least wait a couple of years.
That was . . . random. And odd. She blinked and said, Okay, Dad, dontWell talk about it later, all right?
The response time of ambulances in Morganville was fastafter all, it wasnt that big a townso Claire wasnt surprised to hear sirens already in the distance. Youre going to be okay, Daddy, she said, and took his hand in hers. Youre going to be fine.
He tried to smile. I have to be, dont I? I have to see you go to college.
But But Im in college. No, she must have misunderstood him. He probably meant he wanted to see her graduate from college.
Because otherwise, what sense did that make? Anyway, it was probably normal for him to be a little confused. Hed passed out, and it was almost certainly his heart; she knew the doctors had been treating him for a while. Maybe this time they could fix it.
I love you, baby, he said. I love you and your mom very much; you know that, right?
He put his hand on her cheek, and finally the tears just spilled over in a hot mess down her face. She put her fingers around his. I know, she whispered. Dont leave, Daddy.
The ambulance sirens were loud now, right in front of the house, and Claires mom dropped down next to Shane again, touched his shoulder, and said, Would you go let them in, honey?
He was gone in seconds, pounding down the stairs, racing to the front door. It didnt seem long at all before Claire heard the rattle of metal and heavy footsteps, and then the room was crowded with two big paramedics, one male, one female, who moved her and her mom out of the way so they could lay out all their kits. Claire backed up to the wall and, now that she had nothing to do, started to shake like she might come apart. Her mom put her arm around her, and they waited. Shane stayed out in the hall, looking in. When Claire wiped her eyes and glanced his direction, he mouthed, Hang in there. She smiled weakly.
The paramedics talked to her dad, then talked to each other, and finally the woman got up and came over to Claire and her mom. Okay, it looks like hes stable right now, but we need to get him into the hospital. Ill need somebody to come along to fill out the paperwork.
Ill . . . Ill get my purse, Claires mom murmured. The male paramedic had her dad sitting up now, and was taking his blood pressure. Shane moved out of the way as Mom headed out to get her things, and then came in to stand with Claire. He took her hand and held it tight.
See, hes okay, Shane said. Maybe he just passed out. Lucky he didnt hit his head.
Lucky, Claire whispered. She didnt feel lucky. Not at all. Right now, she felt . . . cursed.
As they helped her dad to the waiting gurney, he looked over, and she was relieved when he said, Shane. Thanks for being here with my girls.
No problem, Shane said. Feel better, sir.
Keep your hands off my daughter.
The paramedics grinned, and the woman said, I think hes feeling better. You can meet us at the hospital if youd like. Your mother may need you.
Ill go, Claire said. Shane
Im not leaving you. Youre going to need someone to fetch hamburgers, right? Im your man.
Yes, he was, she thought. Definitely her man.
The hospital wasnt Claires favorite place, not ever, but now that it was her dad being wheeled into tests, it definitely was worse than usual. At least when shed been the patient she didnt have to just . . . sit and wait.
She felt useless. Her mom had filled out all the sheets and sheets of paper, answered questions, made phone calls, done everything useful she could, but now she just sat, looking empty-eyed at a television playing in the corner of the waiting room. Claire kept bringing her magazines, and her mother glanced at them, thanked her, and put them aside.
It was awful.
Michael and Eve showed up a couple of hours later, bearing pizza, which by then was really welcome. Father Joe from the local Catholic church stopped in, too, and spoke to Claires mother in private. They prayed, too. Claire wasnt in the habit, really, but she got up and joined them. Silently, her friends followed her, and it felt better having them with her. At the end, Michael crossed himself and hugged her, and Eve did, too. Shane just stayed with her, quiet and there.
Oliver showed up an hour later, and exchanged guarded nods with Father Joe; it looked like the two of them had one of those frenemy relationships that were so common in Morganville. Oliver didnt pray, at least not with the rest of them. He walked right over to Claires mother and said, Your daughter has rendered the town a great service. There will be no charge for whatever treatments your husband may need. If it goes beyond what the doctors feel they can treat here, I will personally sign the paperwork to allow him to be transferred to another, larger facility out of town. And should one or both of you decide not to return, we will not object.
That was . . . enormous, really. Claire sat, stunned, and just looked at him. He didnt so much as spare her a glance. His luminous eyes were fixed on her mom, and there was a strange kind of gentleness in the way he spoke.
I dont know what to say, Claires mom finally said. IThank you.
My word is also the Founders word. Should you need anything, get word to me immediately. Ill ensure its done. He hesitated, then said, Your daughter is impressive. Difficult, but impressive. I do not know you or your husband well, but I expect that you must be equally impressive to have such a child.
Claires mom raised her chin, looked him in the eyes, and said, What about my daughter?
Oliver didnt hesitate. The offer doesnt extend to Claire. She must remain in Morganville.
Im not leaving her here alone.
Shes not alone, Oliver said. We can hardly pry her from those who care for her even at gunpoint. And your daughter is no helpless child. Youll have to give her up to her own life, now or a year from now; what difference?
Claire had never, ever seen her mother look like thatthat focused, that fierce, that determined. Her mom put her arms around her, holding her in a tight, protective embrace. I dont have to give her up to you, she said. I know Claires capable of being on her own; Ive known that for a long time. But shes our child, now and always, and once my husband is better well be back for her. You cant keep her here forever.
Shane took in a small breath, and Claire felt her heart beat a little faster. No, Mom, dont. . . . But Oliver didnt seem to take it badly. He inclined his head just a fraction and said, Perhaps not. Time will tell. But you must do the right thing for your husband, mistress. We will do the right thing for your daughter. For now.
He took her hand, shook it, and walked out without ever saying a word to Claire, or anyone else.
Michael said, Anyone else think thats strange?
Well, I personally think its awesome that hes letting them go, but strange? Not so much, Eve said. Why shouldnt they leave? I mean, they shouldnt have really been here in the first place, right? Bishop moved them here, and then Amelie just didnt let them leave for her own reasons. Theyre not cut out for this town.
Nobodys cut out for this town, Shane said. Nobody sane, anyway.
Says the kid who came back.
Yeah, kind of proves my point.
Claire didnt say anything. She couldnt think what to say, actually. Yes, shed wanted her parents out of this mess; it had been horrible when theyd been dragged into it in the first place, and not a day had gone by that she hadnt wished there were a way to smuggle them out to safety and get them a real life somewhere else.
But on the other hand, her mom and dad could be . . . leaving. And she wasnt going with them; she knew that. Even if she wanted to go, Amelie wouldnt let her go. That had already been made clear enough.
That her family might come back here, for her, when her dad was betterthat was overwhelming and wrong. And, at the same time, weirdly comforting.
She and her mom didnt talk about it, not at all.
The rest of the afternoon passed slowly, and without anything in the way of excitement, or even new information. Claire fell asleep lying awkwardly in a chair, and woke up to find Shane draping a blanket around her. Shh, he said. Sleep. You still need it. Ill wake you up if anything happens.
She knew she shouldnt, but the past few days were crushing her hard, and she couldnt keep her eyes open, no matter how much she tried.
She woke up with a shock some time laterno idea whento the sound of shouting voices.
Claire fought her way free of the blanket and stood, looking around for the danger, but there was nothing really visible in front of her. Oh, it was in the hall. She saw people running, including two security guards in full uniform, with guns.
What the hell? Michael had gotten up even faster than Claire. Shane and Eve were still trying to wake up from where theyd been dozing in their chairs.
Her mother was nowhere to be seen.
Its in the hall, Claire said. Michael moved to the doorway and looked out, then shook his head.
Some crazy dude, he said. He thinks hes a doctor here, I guess. Hes yelling about how theyre not following his orders. Securitys got him.
Weird.
Well, its a hospital. People arent generally here because theyre all good and normal.
Michael had a point, but it still felt weird, again. That could have just been waking up like she did, of course, and the generally freaky nature of the past few days.
All Claire knew was that she was glad, so glad, that her friends were with her.
Wheres your mom? Shane asked. Claire shook her head.
Bathroom, maybe? Which is where I need to go.
Ooh, me, too, Eve said. The boys rolled their eyes, like theyd planned it. What? Its what girls do. Get over it.