The fact that Hank thought she was crying over whether or not Tripp was going to wake up made her cry even harder. She didn’t care about Tripp that way—she wanted to scream.
Hank’s lips brushed Murphy’s head, and her heart almost stopped beating.
“Oh, Murphy,” Hank whispered against her forehead.
What was Hank doing to her? She was a muddled mess.
“Come on,” he sighed. “I’ll drive you home.”
Hank led her to his car and helped her to the front seat. She curled up, her back to the driver’s seat. She was afraid if she looked at him, she would break. Maybe things would be different after she graduated. She’d be traveling the world, seeing places. She would be a different person, not the poor little, orphan girl that scrubbed gum off the walls. If she could keep up the façade for just a little longer, Hank wouldn’t have to know who she really was, and maybe … She scoffed. Who was she kidding? There wasn’t going to be any travel. There would never be a her and Hank—she had promised. Last night was the last time. She knew she would always be that poor little nobody. She’d end up working at McDonald’s and living in crummy housing on the wrong side of the tracks. She’d never be more than who she was. She pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes trying to pull herself together.
Hank jogged around the front of the car. A blast of cold air hit Murphy’s back as he climbed in behind her, followed by a blast of hot air as he cranked up the heater, sitting for a minute to let Murphy’s limbs thaw. She hadn’t realized how cold she actually was.
Hank rubbed Murphy’s back, and his hand stayed there as he drove the cold roads toward Iverson. If felt as if he was burning a hole in through her. Murphy bit her lip. This was crazy. She had three minutes tops before they arrived back at Iverson. She could tell Hank. She needed to get this weight off. Let the chips fall where they may. Nothing could be worse than what she was feeling now.
She sat up, turning in her seat. “Hank, I need to tell you—”
Her confession was cut off by the high twill of Hank’s cell phone. Hank reached in his pocket and silenced it without looking to see who was calling.
He shook his head and looked over to Murphy, eyes imploring her to continue.
Murphy picked at a hangnail. She hated the habit, but she couldn’t bear to look back at Hank. If she did, she’d lose her nerve.
Hank reached over and found her hand with his.
“Cain, whatever it is that’s bothering you, you can tell me.”
She hated the hot tears slipping silently down her face. She squeezed her eyes shut.
“That day at the train station—” Murphy started again.
The cell phone twilled again.
“Maybe you should answer that.” Murphy suggested when Hank reached to silence it again.
He let the phone ring for two more breaths before answering it with a deep sigh.
Murphy’s pocket dinged, and she pulled her cell phone from her pocket. She stared at the words Eloise had sent. She was going to be sick
Hank’s phone call lasted less than thirty-seconds. He ended the call with a whoop, letting his cell phone drop in the cupholder. “He’s awake, Cain! He’s awake.”
Text Notifications
From Floyd Taylor (08:32 AM)
Call me! 911!!
From Eloise Harrington (08:42 AM)
Murphy! Tripp woke up! Where are you at? Get over here!!!
Chapter Twenty
Hank pulled a U-turn, speeding toward home, taking half the time to arrive.
He’s awake. Two of the most terrifying and relieving words that existed. Now that Tripp was awake, her secret would be revealed. She could go back to — to what? What exactly did she have to go back to? Peeling gum from the walls? Scrubbing toilets? That really wasn’t a life. But it wouldn’t be this fantasy life she had been living. Even if the fantasy was so nice.
Hank pulled up to the Harrington house with a screeching of breaks. Somehow, he had parked the car and was half out before it was even at a full stop.
Murphy followed at a slightly slower pace. She glanced over the space that separated Iverson and the Harrington house. She could see the smoke curling in the sky from Iverson. She snapped her sneakered feet together. If her shins weren’t throbbing so much from her morning run, she could just jog back to Iverson, disappear from the Harrington’s forever like she’d planned. They would quickly find out who she really was.
The thought of taking the easy-way-out made her sick to her stomach and turned her feet to bricks. Hank would come looking for her. Maybe she could bribe the twins to cover for her. It’s not like Hank would be able to find her. He wouldn’t think to look in the kitchen.
The twins—what had Floyd’s message meant?
The Harringtons needed this family moment. She was just an outsider. Maybe it would be better if she wasn’t here. Then she wouldn’t see the hurt and betrayal in everyone’s—in Hank’s—eyes when they figured out the truth.
“Cain, you coming?” Hank reappeared at the open doorway, the hopeful look in his eyes chasing thoughts of escape from her mind.
Against her better judgement, she took the steps to the house two at a time, biting back the curse from her tired legs. The Harringtons had to have the truth from her. Not some pieced together guesses from confusion. They needed an explanation. She owed them that much. The ever-faithful Jarvis bowed to her, closing the door behind her.
She offered him a sad smile. This would probably go quick. As soon as she rounded the corner into Tripp’s room, he’d know. This would be the last time she would be greeted by Jarvis.
She turned on her heel and threw her arms around the very shocked butler. “Thanks for everything.”
The butler awkwardly patted her in the back. “Miss Cain?”
He smelled of peppermint and cloves. She had never noticed that before. “I know you don’t understand, but really. Thanks. You are the world’s best butler. You should have a mug with that on it. Do you have a mug? You should have a mug.” Murphy pushed away, taking in his complete shocked expression. “Yes, well.” She brushed at some non-existent crumbs on his shoulder. “Thanks.”
“He’s awake.” Jarvis stated, face the color of the ribbon on the Christmas wreaths. “And, Miss—”
“I know,” she turned and headed down the hall.
The door was open, light from the windows inside streaming into the hallway. She paused right outside the door. When she stepped across that line, everything was going to change. She wiped under her eyes with freezing fingertips. Pulling her sleeves over her hands, she scrubbed her face. Everything was changing whether she was ready for it or not.
The high-pitched laugh bubbling from out of the room made Murphy’s blood turn to ice.
“Oh, yes, Fiji is just wonderful at this time of year, but when I heard what had happened to my Trippy Woo, I had to come be by his side.”
Rounding the corner, Murphy saw Claire practically draped over Tripp, one hand tangled in his hair. Tripp, propped up on at least fourteen pillows, winced as a nurse pulled tape from whatever tube had been connected to his arm. Another nurse scribbled furiously on a clipboard.
Tripp looked good for a guy just waking up from a ten-day nap. A little pale, but otherwise good. All things considering. He had one hand rested on Claire’s hip, thumb rubbing back and forth. Their PDA had never made Murphy sick before, but now, knowing what Claire had been up to, knowing it was all just a game to her, she wanted to throw up.
“What are you doing here?” Claire asked as if Murphy was a rotting piece of meat.
Richard and Tabitha, conversing with the Doctor, looked up at Clair’s outburst. Grandpa Jack and Eloise, with matching uncomfortable smiles pasted on their faces, looked from Tripp and Claire to Murphy and back. Their looks asking Murphy to save them from the joke that was currently wrapped around Tripp. If only she could.
“M-Murphy is Tripp’s girlfriend.” Eloise stammered out an explanation.
Ble
ss Eloise for defending her. Even with the evidence of her lie quite literally smacking them in the face.
Claire’s laugh was ear piercing. Murphy almost forgot how annoying it could be.
“That’s rich.” Claire pointed an excusatory finger toward Murphy. “This is who you thought was Trippy’s girlfriend?” Claire looked to Tripp’s family as if it was obvious Murphy could never be one of them. “Murphy is nothing but a charity case. She’s a nobody.”
“Claire—” Tripp started before she stopped him with a sloppy kiss. Murphy could feel herself blushing. Her eyes darted to Hank and down to the floor. She shouldn’t have looked at Hank frozen at the end of his brother’s bed, a look of disgust painting his face.
Mrs. Harrington, mimosa clutched in her grasp like a lifeline, gasped. Eloise’s teeth were biting her bottom lip. She looked like she was forcing herself to stay glued to her spot. Mr. Harrington standing behind his wife, hands in pockets. The nurses and Doctor were the only one to ignore the blatant affection of the two teens.
“Murphy,” Mrs. Harrington finally took a sip—a long sip—from her flute. “This is … Claire.” Introducing her as if she didn’t know what else to say.
Murphy felt herself nodding. Her mouth completely dry.
“I’m sure this is just a big misunderstanding. Murphy can tell us what is going on,” Grandpa Jack pipped up. He was the only one who looked at ease lounging in the same chair Murphy had found him in most of the past week.
Claire put both arms around Tripp’s neck pulling him closer. He looked as if he’d rather be strangled, but to give him credit, he didn’t push her away. If looks could kill, the glare Claire was shooting Murphy would have her six feet under covered in worms and maggots.
“I…” Murphy wished she were six feet under. The worms and maggots would be preferable to the mess she had made herself. Her chest felt tight. “I’m sorry. I never meant—”
“Never meant what, Murphy?” Claire untangled herself and stood up, tugging her barely there skirt down. She planted her feet and crossed her arms. It was almost like she was protecting the family. More like the family needed protecting from Claire, but what could Murphy do? She was a nobody who didn’t belong here.
Murphy took a deep breath. “I never meant for any of this to happen.” She folded her arms, hugging herself. She shrugged. “After I saved Tripp at the train station, I rode up to the hospital and everything happened so fast. Hank thought that I was Tripp’s girlfriend, and at the time, I wanted it to be true,” Murphy stumbled over the admission. “And it was nice to…to belong. I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I didn’t think— ”
Claire snorted. “Of course, you didn’t think.”
“You’re right,” Murphy was sick and tired of bowing to Claire’s jabs and stabs. “I didn’t think. I just did. I went with my gut. You were busy on your phone while Tripp ran back to get your purse. When he slipped and fell, you were still too busy to even notice that he’d been hurt. And instead of checking in on him, you just played with whatever Fiji Cabana boy was available.”
Claire sucked in a breath, her face turning a scary shade of red.
Murphy didn’t wait for her outburst before continuing. “I was so shocked when Hank thought I was Tripp’s girlfriend, I didn’t have time to correct him,” she turned to face Tabitha and Robert. “I had every intention of telling you that morning of the brunch—”
“You’ve been eating here?” Claire squeaked.
“Hush,” Tabitha Harrington hushed Claire, making everyone in the room jump. She turned back to Murphy, who took it as her cue to continue.
“But the brunch, while it was wonderful, sort of fell apart. And I started hanging out with Eloise and Hank and I’ve never had any of that before and didn’t want it to end,” she smiled at Eloise, and met Hank’s eyes for the briefest of moments before quickly moving to Grandpa Jacks. “And I fell in love.”
Grandpa Jack chuckled, “With me? Hot dog!” he slapped his leg causing everyone to burst out laughing. Except for Claire. She still looked like she was ready to murder Murphy.
“No. Yes!” Murphy waved an arm indicating the entire family. “Yes! All of you. You are all the best.”
“I told you it was impossible for Tripp to have someone as wonderful as Murphy!” Robert exclaimed.
With his outburst, it seemed everyone started talking at once. All agreeing or disagreeing who it was who first figured out that Murphy couldn’t be who she said she was. Murphy felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It didn’t appear as if anyone hated her, but just the same, Claire was right in pointing out that she didn’t belong here. She already knew that. She couldn’t stay. She put the gifted cell phone on the nightstand table. She couldn’t keep it.
Tripp caught her eye, before she disappeared out of the room and gave her a wave and half moon smile. She waved back, slightly sorry for the mess she had just left him, but Claire was curling back in his lap. He didn’t look half so as accommodating after Murphy’s Cabana boy comment.
She stepped into the hallway. She was invisible again.
Walking back to the front door, Murphy sucked in breaths to keep from losing it in the hallway. She wanted to sprint the rest of the way, but her legs still hurt from her run, dang it.
“Murphy! Murphy, wait!” Hank chased her up the hallway.
Murphy swiped her face. Commanded her tears not to fall. She stopped but didn’t turn. She couldn’t face him. She could feel him. He was so close. If she would just make herself turn. She slid her eyes closed. Took half a step back, her back pressing against his shoulder. His hands curling around her forearms.
“Murphy.” Her name on his lips was a sigh and a question. She could hear the pain in his voice and it about broke her. “You could have told me.” It was a whisper that she almost didn’t hear.
“I tried so many times. I really did. And then,” she shrugged. “I just couldn’t. I couldn’t bear it if you would hate me.”
“I couldn’t hate you.”
She could feel the tears slipping. The relief that Hank didn’t hate her radiating through her body. But she still didn’t belong in his world.
“Stay,” he pleaded. “Please. We’ll figure this out.”
She drew in a shaky breath, what was left of her shattered heart, breaking in two. If only it were so easy. If only she could step into the role. “I can’t, Hank. You’re you and I’m…me. I’d never belong here.”
“Murphy—”
She turned and threw her arms around his middle, burying her face in his shirt. “Please, let me go.”
His arm tightened around her, cheek resting on the top of her hair.
Her fingers gripped the back of his shirt. She wanted to always remember this moment. Hank’s arms around her. His cheek on her head. His cinnamon sunshine scent. If she lingered, she would lose her nerve. She’d stay forever. She had to go. Now. She pulled away and almost ran the rest of the way to the door. She yanked it open, pulled it closed behind her. Ignoring the throbbing in her legs, she broke into a run. She had made it almost to the stone fence dividing the two properties before she realized that it was snowing.
A Murphy miracle.
Murphy felt it was more of a Murphy curse than miracle.
Chapter Twenty-One
Headmistress Kingfisher was back. Murphy knew as soon as she got back to Iverson. The air was tinged with commanded respect. Three students who had returned to school the day before scuttled by, books in hand. Study books. No one at Iverson studied during break. Unless there was a chance the Headmistress would find you. The smart kids locked themselves in their rooms.
Mistress Hyde of Iverson had cut her break short. She hadn’t been due for another week. Nothing good could come from this.
“Hey, Murph, where have you been?” Lloyd bounded over to Murphy. If he noticed her splotchy, tear-stained face, he didn’t mention it. He glanced over his shoulder as if waiting for The Hyde to step around the corner and give him three
weeks detention, which, knowing Floyd and Lloyd, wasn’t out of the scope of reality.
“I went for a run. Tripp woke up, and Claire already made it back to town, so yeah. Everyone knows.” Murphy chewed on her bottom lip. She didn’t want to stand here in the hallway chit-chatting. A long hot shower was calling her name. Not to mention the huge box of chocolates from Mr. Gruber. She planned on eating every single one of them while marathoning Doctor Who.
“Yeah, about that. Claire stopped by here before she went there. She had some kind of meeting with Kingfisher. Floyd and I tried to get her to tell us what the meeting was about, but she wouldn’t.” He stuck his hands in his back pockets. “I tried to call you on your phone, but you never answered. Now the Hyde is looking for you,” Floyd looked over his shoulder again. “Murph, I think it’s about Fiona. We tried to get into your room, but she wasn’t there.”
Murphy’s stomach dropped. Could this day get any worse? She turned toward the Headmistress’ office. Better just get this over with.
“Oh, and, Murph.”
She swung back around.
“Happy birthday,” Lloyd gave her two thumbs up before taking the stairs two at a time.
She was frozen. Birthday? It was December 27th already? This was taking the cake for most sucky birthdays.
“Miss Cain, can you please come in my office for a moment.” Headmistress Kingfisher’s voice seemed to float from her office.
Murphy pulled her hair out of its pony to quickly put it back up again. She swiped her face with the back of her sleeve, knowing she had to look like something the cat dragged in.
Squaring her shoulders, she faced the door. The best way for any meetings in the Headmistress’ office was to get them over with quick like pulling off a bandage.
She was only a little surprised to see Mrs. Potts standing in the office as well. Mrs. Potts should have been gone for another two days. Murphy tried to swallow down a throat that felt like it was coated in cotton. Mrs. Potts looked angry. Her hands gripped the chair in front of her, knuckles white. Her face was beet red and eyes wild as she stared at a random object on the Headmistress’ desk. Murphy tried to think back to a time she had seen Mrs. P angry and came up blank. She felt like her stomach was bottoming out. If this was Mrs. P’s reaction, whatever it was, couldn’t be good.
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