by Amber Garza
I wondered why I needed to look nice for the doctor, but I knew better than to argue with Mom. When she got determined like this, it was better to do as she said.
Nodding, I stood. The room spun around me, and I realized I hadn’t eaten or drunk anything in hours. Dad hurried to my side. “Here’s some water.”
I sipped it while leaning against Dad.
“Maybe a bath would be better,” Mom said as if she was worried I would pass out in a shower. “I’ll go draw one.”
“Thank you,” I said to Dad after I’d downed the entire glass of water.
“Of course.” He took it from my hand and set it on the end table. “Why don’t I help you upstairs?”
They were treating me like an invalid. Like I was so fragile I couldn’t simply walk around the house without assistance. I would have laughed if it weren’t so sad. With Dad clutching my arm, I made my way up the stairs. He deposited me in front of my bathroom. When I stepped inside, the bath was almost completely filled with water. Mom had thrown in a bath bomb, so the scent of lilac wafted under my nose. She’d left folded towels on the counter along with my favorite pair of flannel pajamas. I ran my fingertips over the fuzzy fabric. Then I peeled off my dress and kicked off my high heels.
Dipping my toes into the water, a chill ran up my calf. The water was a little too hot, so I yanked my leg out. Then I adjusted the temperature and waited. Steam rose around my body. Once the water was the right temperature, I sank down into it. Leaning my head back, I allowed the warmth to soothe my aching muscles. Staring up at the ceiling, my mind drifted back to Jasper. I pictured him alone in that house, and sadness swept over me. If I was still there, we’d be playing cards or eating an afternoon snack or working in the garden.
In all the time I’d been there, I’d never had a bath this glorious. Nina never gave me a bath bomb, and the tub at Jasper’s was old and small. So, why was I still thinking about that place? Why did it seem like I missed it?
Holding my breath, I lowered myself down completely into the water, allowing it to rise over my head. Warm water kissed my skin. When I came up, I washed my hair and body until I erased all scent of the forest from my skin. Maybe then I could stop thinking about it. Maybe then I could return here in body and in mind.
After the bath, I changed into my pajamas and made my way into my bedroom. My bare feet sank into the soft carpet with every step. The aspirin I’d taken in the morning had worn off, and my headache had returned. Climbing into bed, I pulled the covers up to my chin and rested my head on my fluffy pillow. An involuntary sigh escaped through my lips. It was even better than I’d remembered.
“Layla?” Mom stepped into the room. “Dr. Wolfrey is here.”
Wow, that was fast. Mom must’ve bribed him. I’d learned over the years that money talked.
Dr. Wolfrey had been our family doctor for years. He wore thick glasses and was balding. But what he lacked in hair on his head, he had an abundance of on his face. His eyebrows were so bushy they practically covered his eyelids, and he often had a stray nose hair or two.
As he examined me, I caught a whiff of his musky old-man cologne. It turned my stomach.
“How’d you get the bump on your head?” he asked.
“I fell,” I answered quietly.
“And these bruises?” he indicated the faint ones on my arm and face.
“I was in a car accident.”
Mom gasped from where she stood in the doorway.
“I’m really tired…and hungry….and I have a headache.” Reaching up, I touched the side of my head.
“I can give you some aspirin, but you should take it with food,” Dr. Wolfrey said.
“Of course,” Mom said from the doorway. “I’ll go grab her something to eat right now.” She started to leave and then stopped. “Is she going to be okay, Dr. Wolfrey?”
Standing up straight, he nodded. “She’s fine, just some bumps and bruises.”
I let out a relieved sigh. I’d known nothing was wrong, but now that Mom had confirmation, perhaps she’d calm down a little. As Dr. Wolfrey and Mom talked in the hall, I lie back on the bed and closed my eyes. Seeing my family again was wonderful, but also exhausting. And I was dreading all the questions I was certain were coming. I’d dodged them as well as I could so far, but eventually they would demand answers. The thought alone made me want to crawl under my covers and never come out.
When I heard footsteps nearing my bed, I pressed my eyes closed tighter and forced my breathing to come out steadily. I’d faked sleeping many times over the years to get out of things with my parents, and this time was no different.
Even with my eyes closed, I could see the shadow cast over me. But then it left and the footsteps retreated. After hearing my door close, I rolled over and pressed my face into my newly washed sheets. They smelled clean and fresh, and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I spread my arms out, savoring every inch of my comfortable bed. Then I let out a contented sigh and allowed myself to drift to sleep.
***
I awoke to the feeling of someone in my room, and in my delirious state, I assumed it was Jasper. There was a flutter in my stomach like excitement and anticipation. A joyful smile painted my face as I rolled over. When I saw that it was Kevin sitting in a chair by my bed, reality hit. I was no longer at Jasper’s. I was home.
Home.
The place I’d been desperate to get to for weeks.
The place where I belonged.
“Well, hello there, sleepyhead.” Kevin smiled.
“Hey,” I responded groggily, pushing my hair out of my eyes.
“I hope I didn’t scare you. Mom made us take turns watching you. I think she was worried you’d never wake up.”
“How long was I out?” I hoisted myself up to a seated position, and felt a little lightheaded. When did I last eat?
“You slept all afternoon and evening. It’s morning now.”
“I guess I was tired.”
“Clearly.” Kevin chuckled.
Clutching my belly, I said, “Man, I am so hungry.”
“Yeah, Mom brought you some food right after Dr. Wolfrey left, but you were already out.”
I nodded, remembering. It was this bed. It had magical powers.
“Mom was making you some breakfast. I’m sure she’ll bring it in any minute.” Kevin scooted his chair closer. “So, where have you been? What happened to you?”
Out of my two brothers, I’d always been closest to Kevin. We’d shared many secrets over the years, and I could always trust him. “I was in a car accident on my way home from the cabin the night of the party.”
“Mom said you mentioned a car accident to Dr. Wolfrey,” Kevin mused aloud. “But that doesn’t explain where you’ve been since then.”
I pressed my lips together, taken aback by his statement. When I’d first started talking, I had planned to tell Kevin the truth. Not only did I trust him, but I figured he’d be so impressed with me that I’d actually met the beastly boy. However, I could tell now that he was only fishing for information to share with Mom. So, I’d have to be careful with what I said.
“Um….someone found me and brought me back to their house. Then they took care of me and fixed my car. Once I was well, then I came home.”
Kevin’s eyes narrowed in skepticism. “Who found you?”
“Just some people who lived near where I had the accident.”
“And in all the time you were there, no one thought to call us and tell us you were okay?”
It felt like an interrogation now, and I realized how many holes were in my story. They all could be explained, but even then they would sound suspicious. Nina had been right. Letting me come home was a risk to them. Jasper knew it too, and it endeared me to him further. I thought about saying I’d had amnesia and didn’t know who I was at first. That would explain why I didn’t call. But did that happen in real life or only in soap operas? Plus, if I said that Mom would make Dr. Wolfrey come back, and I didn’t want anoth
er doctor visit.
In the end, I told the truth. “They didn’t have a phone, and I lost mine somehow in the accident.” I still didn’t know how my phone was the only thing of mine that didn’t turn up.
“They didn’t have a phone? Who doesn’t have a phone?” Kevin was getting agitated. I regretted answering any of his questions.
“You’re up.” Mom whisked into the room, a plate of food in her hand. The smell of eggs and bacon filled the room, causing my stomach to rumble. “And you’re hungry, I see.” Mom chuckled.
I smiled. “Yes. Very hungry.”
Mom handed me the plate and a fork, and I immediately dug in. The eggs were so fluffy they melted in my mouth, and the bacon was the perfect amount of crispy. It was the best thing I’d eaten since the night Jasper and I had pizza.
“I’m glad to see you have your appetite back,” Mom said. She placed a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “Thanks for watching her, Kev. But it looks like she’s just fine, so you can go do whatever you need to.”
“It’s okay.” Kevin didn’t budge. “Layla and I were in the middle of a conversation.”
I waved away his words, then spoke with my mouth full, something that would’ve got me in a lot of trouble before. But I knew Mom would let it go today. “We can talk later, Kevin. I’m going to eat, and then I’m dying to take a shower and put on some real clothes.”
“Yes, let her get cleaned up, and then we all can have a nice chat,” Mom added, effectively ruining my appetite.
I may have been able to avoid the conversation for a little longer, but soon I would have to come clean. Soon, everyone would be expecting answers. And if they were anything like Kevin, they wouldn’t settle for anything less than the truth.
11
THE INVESTIGATION
MY PLAN HAD been to dodge my family’s questions by feigning exhaustion, hunger, a headache, or feeling overwhelmed. I had a million excuses at the ready. It was the only silver lining of returning home after being missing for two months. Everyone was so concerned about me that they’d give me whatever I needed.
What I hadn’t anticipated was the police showing up. I didn’t know why I hadn’t factored them in. Of course my parents had been working with them. I’d been a missing person for months. And they’d have to inform them that I was back. It all made sense once I’d thought it through. Too bad I didn’t figure it all out before they were standing in front of me firing questions.
I felt blindsided and completely unprepared when two officers had shown up right before we were about to have dinner. No one else seemed surprised by their arrival. Mom greeted them at the door, calling the tall one Officer Dante and the shorter one Officer Jones. Dad shook both of their hands, and even Kevin and Grant offered them a head bob and a what’s up. So clearly, they’d become fixtures in our family.
“We’re so glad you’re home safely, Layla,” Officer Dante said.
“Thank you,” I responded, desperately hoping that they had come over simply to say that. But deep down I knew that wasn’t the case.
“We’ve been searching everywhere for you,” he continued. “The entire town has been so worried.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. I’d already said thank you, and there didn’t seem to be anything else to say. As I stood next to the couch, I swung my arms by my side, willing the cops to leave.
“We just have a few questions,” Officer Jones finally spoke, stepping forward to stand next to his partner.
My stomach tightened. Dad placed his hand on my shoulder as if to comfort me. It didn’t work. The only person who could comfort me right now was Jasper. If only we’d come up with some sort of story before I left. The longer I’d been away from him, the more apparent it was that I missed him.
“Why don’t we all sit down?” Mom swept her arm out gracefully. No matter the situation, she remained the gracious hostess.
I had no desire to sit down. What I wanted to do was run out of here as fast as I could, but I knew that wasn’t an option. Taking a deep breath, I sunk down into the recliner. The Officers sat next to each other on the couch. Kevin and Grant stood against the wall, crossing their arms over their chest and watching with curiosity while Mom and Dad took the remaining loveseats. With everyone’s eyes on me, I felt like a zoo animal on display.
“We understand that you were in a car accident,” Officer Dante said, cutting right to the chase. He hadn’t even given me a minute to catch my breath. Mom leaned forward, Dad’s eyes widened. I knew everyone was dying to know what had happened to me. “Was that the night of the graduation party?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Can you tell me about it?”
“Nothing really to tell. It started raining on my drive home. My tires must’ve hit a puddle or something, because I lost control of the car. I don’t remember anything after that.”
“What is the next thing you do remember?”
I glanced over at Kevin, wondering if he’d already told everyone what I’d shared with him this morning. His expression gave nothing away.
“I remember waking up in a strange house.” I clasped and unclasped the hands in my lap in quick succession.
“Who’s house?” Officer Dante asked.
“Um…” Reaching up, I scratched my head. “A couple who lived near where I had the accident.” It felt weird calling Nina and Jasper a couple when that wasn’t what they were. But I figured that saying a couple would sound better than a strange masked man and a mean old lady. “He found me in my car and brought me back to his house, and she nursed me back to health. And he also fixed my car. Once I was better, I came home.” I shrugged as if none of it was a big deal.
“And this couple…what were their names?” Officer Dante pinned me with an intense stare.
I figured it was okay to share their names. It’s not like the town knew Jasper by his name, anyway. Besides, I could never be certain that I knew their real names. “Nina and Jasper.”
“Last name?” Officer Dante asked.
I shook my head. “No idea.”
“So, you were there the entire time you were gone?” He tapped a finger to his chin as if trying to process what I was saying. Or perhaps he was trying to figure out if I was telling the truth.
“Yes, I was.” I sat up straighter, adjusting myself in the chair.
“And you never once called home. Why is that?” The officer’s question was one I’d been anticipating.
I swear, you could hear a pin drop in the room. Everyone was on the edge of their seats to hear my answer. “They didn’t have working phones, and I lost mine in the accident.”
“No phones?” The officers exchanged glances, their eyebrows furrowing.
Then Officer Jones turned to me. “Where were you when you had the accident?”
“Um…” I hugged myself. “I don’t know exactly. I’m so bad with directions and street names and stuff.” A self-depreciating laugh escaped through my lips. I hoped they bought it.
No one laughed along with me, but Officer Dante nodded and offered a tight smile. “I get that. My daughter’s the same way.” I’d watched enough crime dramas to know he was playing the good cop right now, trying to bond with me over a commonality. “So, maybe just tell us which route you took home from the cabin.”
I shrugged. “You know, just the normal one.”
“There’s actually two routes from the mountains to town,” Officer Jones pointed out. I was starting to feel like a tennis ball being volleyed back and forth with the way they kept switching up on me.
“Layla knows better than to drive through the forest,” Mom interjected firmly. Usually I hated when she did this, but right now I was grateful. Perhaps they’d let it go.
“Is that right, Layla? You didn’t drive through the forest?” No such luck.
My gaze swept the room. I wanted to lie, but the way the officers were harping on this made me wonder if they knew something. I couldn’t afford to be caught in a lie right now. “Actually, I did dri
ve through the forest.”
Mom gasped. I stared at my hands, unable to look at anyone’s faces.
“Does this couple live in the forest?” Officer Dante asked.
Raising my arm, I touched my temple and winced. “You know, I have a really bad headache. Can we finish this later?”
“Of course.” Officer Dante said with a smile, while Officer Jones frowned from over his shoulder. “We’re really glad you’re home safe.”
“Is it okay if I go up to my room?” I peered up at Dad.
“Yeah,” he responded, but his expression was wary. Gone was the sweet, supportive look from earlier. I’d disappointed him, and it made my chest tighten. I stood and walked slowly from the room.
“You’ll look for that couple, right?” I heard Mom asking the officers as I started up the stairs. My body froze.
“We’ll need some additional information from Layla, but yes, we will look for them,” Officer Jones responded.
Knowing that Mom would be anxious to get the ball rolling, I picked up the pace, hurrying up the stairs. When I was safely in my room, I locked the door. After months of wanting freedom, I now desired nothing more than to hide.
***
Several hours after the police officers left, a soft knock sounded at my door. “Layla? Can I come in, please?” It was Kevin.
“Yes.” I sat up in bed, adjusting the pillow behind my back. I’d thought about ignoring his request, pretending to sleep, but thought better of it. I’d have to talk to someone eventually, and Kevin was preferable to anyone else. Plus, they’d left me alone longer than I thought they would.
The door creaked open slowly. Kevin poked his head in, offering me a sympathetic smile before stepping inside. We looked alike with our pale skin and black hair. Grant’s coloring was lighter, like Dad’s, where Kevin and I favored Mom.
As Kevin closed the door behind him, I recalled all the times we’d conspired as children. I often felt left out being the only girl. Also, I was the youngest, and my brothers teased me about being the baby. But Kevin included me more than Grant ever did, maybe because Grant was the oldest. Kevin understood what it felt like not to be the number one kid. That slot had forever been Grant’s, and he did everything in his power to hold onto it. Therefore, no matter how tight he and Kevin were there, was always an underlying competition.