LeAnn woke up to Matt sitting on the bed, holding her hand. “Good morning, sleepy head,” he said in a quiet voice, with a smile. “It’s good to see you awake again.”
She looked around the room as if she wasn’t sure where she was. “What happened?” She sounded a little panicky.
“It’s okay. You’re going to be fine,” he answered in a calming voice.
She turned to look at the window. “It’s morning?” she said sounding confused.
“Yes, LeAnn. You’ve been asleep since yesterday afternoon. Do you remember anything?” He wasn’t going to push it. He wanted her to remember on her own. He had been through this with her before.
“I don’t know.” She frowned, and he saw that she was trying to remember. Just then a pan hit the floor in the kitchen, and she bolted upright.
“It’s okay, relax. It’s my mom fixing breakfast.” He smiled at her and placed his good hand on her shoulder.
“Your mom? What’s your mom doing here? Matt, what in the world happened?” She was getting too anxious, and Matt didn’t like that.
“LeAnn, calm down. Just relax. Let’s take this one step at a time.”
LeAnn looked down and saw Matt’s hand with the heavy bandage on it.
“Oh, Matt! Your hand! What happened to your hand?” she asked, her eyes wide.
“It’s nothing, just a cut. How do you feel?” he asked, trying to change the subject back to her. He didn’t want to say anything about how the injury had happened.
“I don’t know,” she said, sitting back against the headboard. “I feel pretty hung over, like I was on some big drunk or something.”
“Do you remember anything at all from yesterday?”
LeAnn couldn’t believe she had slept through a whole day. She tried to think about the day before. “I remember you guys were here to help me get the stuff out of the attic.” Then she saw the trunks in the corner of the room next to the carved floor mirror. “And Hannah and I….” She paused. “Hannah! Where’s Hannah?” She asked. She started to get out of bed.
Matt put his hands on her shoulders, “LeAnn, calm down. Hannah’s asleep in your guestroom.”
“I have to go see her right now.” LeAnn tried again to get out of bed but was overtaken by dizziness. Her head was spinning and she had a horrible headache. “Oh, my head.”
“Hold on there LeAnn. You’re not going anywhere. Lie back down.” He helped her to lie back down on her pillow. “I’ll go check on Hannah and come back. You stay in bed!”
LeAnn nodded that she would. She didn’t think she could get up even if the house was on fire.
Matt walked into Hannah’s room just as she started to stir. He walked over to the bed and looked down at her. She jumped with a start. “Where am I? Whose room is this? Matt? What are you doing here? Oh God, what happened?” Her head hurt like the worst hangover she had ever had. Right then she promised herself she would never drink again.
“Matt, where the hell am I, and how much did I drink last night?”
Matt chuckled. “Hannah, you’re at LeAnn’s house on the island, and you didn’t drink anything last night.”
He saw her face change as though she might be remembering what had happened to her.
“Matt?” Now she was becoming more serious. “I’m on the island? Oh, no, no! The boathouse!” She started to get agitated and tried to get out of bed. Matt figured she was remembering what had happened. He gently put one hand on her shoulder to stop her from getting up.
“Hannah, listen to me. You’re safe. You’re in the house. My mom and dad are here. Nick is here, and I’m here. Everything’s all right.” He looked into her very frightened eyes.
As if cued, Matt’s mom showed up in the door way. “Hannah sweetie, are you okay?”
Hannah didn’t say anything; she just stared at Matt’s mom. “Mrs. Weston? You’re here?”
“Yes, dear, and everything is fine.”
Matt couldn’t help but notice that his Mom was acting a little strange. Not her usual energetic self, maybe even a little preoccupied.
“Mom, are you okay?” he said with a frown. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked her to come out here to the island. Maybe it was too much work for her. But, somehow he doubted that was it. He had seen her work ten times more at the resort.
“I’m fine. How is LeAnn?” Changing the subject from herself.
“She’s awake too. Will you stay with Hannah for a minute?”
“Of course, dear.” Margaret walked over to sit on the bed with Hannah. She took her hand and then asked her, “Would you like a warm wash cloth to wash your face?”
Hannah nodded her head yes in reply.
Matt looked at his mother again and then returned to LeAnn’s room.
LeAnn was sitting up trying to get her bearings. “Matt, can you tell me why I feel so funny and hung over? I didn’t drink last night, did I? And then asked almost in the same breath, “Will you please tell me what happened to your hand?”
Matt walked over and sat on the bed next to her. “LeAnn, you and Hannah were involved….” He really had to think about how he was going to say this. “You were involved incident. I had to call Dr. Lyons to come out, and he gave you two a strong sedative.”
“Incident? Doctor and sedative?” she said, raising her voice.
“Yeah, you two needed it.”
“Matt, why can’t I remember what happened?”
Saved by the bell, he thought as his cell phone went off. “Hold that thought,” he said trying to sound comical.
“Hello?”
“Matt, how are things at the island infirmary?” It was Dr. Lyons. Matt signaled to LeAnn that he was going to take the call in the hallway so she couldn’t hear him.
“Wow, Doc. Good timing. They’re both waking up and not in very good moods, I might add. This could be a very long day, thank you very much,” Matt said, frustrated.
“Calm down. It’s just the sedative. I gave them a lot because of the degree of their shock. How do they seem to be? Pale? Out of it?”
“No, pretty bitchy, if you ask me. Like the worse case of PMS I’ve ever experienced with any girl I’ve ever been with. They’re angry because they can’t remember, mostly.”
The doctor laughed. “Great! They’re doing fine. Actually, they’re doing better than I expected. See if you can get them to eat a little, but don’t push it. Try to keep Hannah there at least one more day, though I’m sure she’s going to fight to go home today. I’d rather she wasn’t alone. Now, how is your hand?”
Shocked yet somewhat relieved at the doctor’s attitude, Matt said, “I’m fine, but it’s throbbing, and I did take a couple of pills last night.”
“Good. Stay up on the pills. Pain doesn’t help the healing process.”
“Doc?”
“Yeah, Matt.”
“Are you sure this reaction with the girls is normal?”
“I’d rather have them this way than traumatized.”
“All right, if you say so. You’re the doctor.” Then he asked, “Are you going to come out?”
“No, I don’t think I need to. If they’re awake and talking, they’re going to be fine. Like I said, try to see if they will eat. If they start acting like they did yesterday, call me immediately, and I’ll come out. That shows a relapse, but really, I think they’re going to be fine. But Matt, don’t push them to remember what happened. It will come when it comes. The brain protects us from things it thinks we can’t handle. The brain knows when we’re ready to handle things. That will be the hardest part of keeping them quiet. They’re going to want to try to remember, and they may not, at least not for now. Try to get them to stay in bed. I want them to get a lot of rest. Don’t be afraid to give them one of the pills I left for them, and be sure they get one be fore they go to bed tonight. Keep an eye on your hand. I want to see you in a week. Make sure you change the bandage tomorrow. Now tell your mom everything I just told you, and I’ll know it’ll get done!”
Matt chuckled. His mom had a reputation. If you wanted something done and done right, you need to get Margaret Weston.
“Got it, Doc. Thank you. I’ll talk to you soon and keep you posted.” Matt hung up the phone.
He looked at his mom, who was in the hallway watching him. “The doctor says to try and feed them, and they have to stay in bed.”
“I’ll go fix tea and toast.” Margaret walked down the stairs again, as if preoccupied. Matt didn’t like how his Mom was acting. He thought maybe she hadn’t slept well.
LeAnn was trying to get out of bed again when he walked into her room. “What do you think you’re doing?”
She looked at him with confused eyes. “I want to see Hannah.”
“Fine, let me help you.” He walked over and grabbed her arm with his good hand. She almost fell as she put both feet on the floor. She sat down for a minute and composed herself. She put her feet in the slippers by her bed, looked up at Matt, and stood up. Leaning on him, a little she took her first step. Seeing she was light-headed and unsteady, Matt held her up. They walked into the hallway and then into Hannah’s room.
Hannah beamed and started crying when she saw LeAnn, “Oh, LeAnn, LeAnn. What happened? I can’t remember except feeling trapped. I feel so hung-over. Why can’t I remember?”
Hannah’s words were interrupted by Mrs. Weston as she brought in a tray with two mugs of tea and plain toast.
She then spoke as if she was giving a command. “Girls, it’s time to eat something. Doctors orders.”
LeAnn and Hannah both looked at her as if afraid to decline the breakfast she had brought.
LeAnn, with Matt’s help, climbed into bed with Hannah. Mrs. Weston gave them each a mug of tea and a small dish with two slices of plain toast on each.
The girls realized that they weren’t really hungry, but the tea did taste good. They each ate half of one slice of toast, but that was all they could manage.
“You did fine. Now get some rest,” Mrs. Weston told them, as she picked up the mugs and dishes and put them back on the tray. She turned and left the room.
Matt sat at the foot of the bed and said, cautiously, “I did speak to Dr. Lyons this morning, and he said not to try and remember what happened yesterday. It will come when your brains feel you can handle it.”
“Handle what?” Hannah asked before LeAnn could.
“I don’t know.” Matt shook his head. “Whatever you two experienced yesterday in the boathouse.”
“I really do want to remember, but it’s all foggy,” LeAnn said.
“I don’t want to!” Exclaimed Hannah. “I want to go home now!”
“Hannah, Dr. Lyons really wants you to stay one more day. Okay?” Matt said softly, repeating what the doctor had said to him.
She looked at him questioningly. “Why? I’m fine, and I want to go home,” she said starting to cry.
LeAnn took Hannah’s hand, “Hannah, please stay with me another day. I really need you to be here with me. You and I went through something, and I think the two of us can help each other to remember.”
“But, LeAnn, what if I don’t want to remember? What if it’s just too awful?” Hannah wiped her tears with her hand.
“Then we won’t. If it gets to be too much, then we just won’t. But I really think it would be better if we were together when we did. Okay? Will you please stay with me?” LeAnn was pleading because she really did need Hannah with her right then.
There was a long pause, then Hannah replied very softly, “Okay.”
The girls decided that they were going to try to sleep. Hannah asked LeAnn to stay with her, and she agreed. They feel back asleep holding hands.
Matt went downstairs and found his dad watching the morning news.
“Looks like we could get some rain today,” Ben said, when he saw Matt standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Dad, is Mom okay?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. She’s acting kind of strange. Like maybe she didn’t sleep or something. Just not herself.”
“She’s fine, son. I think she is a little tired. You know, strange bed and all. Besides, she’s in her ‘Take care of everything’ mode.’ You know your mother.” In fact, Ben Weston had never seen his strong wife so scared in all their married life together. He didn’t know what she had seen, but she hadn’t slept all night, her eyes darting around towards the windows in the room they slept in. He had gotten up a couple of times to convince her that there was nothing out there. Needless to say, he didn’t get much sleep either.
Just then Nick came in through the front door. “Good morning, everyone.” He sounded chipper.
“Where have you been?” Matt asked, needing to get ice on his hand.
Nick laughed. “I jogged the island. Not an easy thing to do. Too many trees. I ended up walking more than jogging. It’s a beautiful day, but I did see clouds rolling in. How did everyone sleep? My back is a little sore. The couch I slept on wasn’t very comfortable.”
Matt felt bad for Nick, “Sorry you had to sleep on the couch. You’ve been great staying out here with us and helping.”
“Are the girl’s conscious yet?”
“Yeah, they had a little breakfast and then fell back asleep.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that. I’d like to see Hannah, but I really need a shower.”
At that moment Nick and Matt both realized they didn’t have a change of clothes.
Matt’s dad spoke up. “Boys, I really need to get back to the resort. I’ll leave your mother here, Matt. Nick, why don’t you take me back, go to your place shower and change then bring Matt some clothes?”
“Man, Dad that would be great. Would you mind, Nick?” Matt asked turning toward Nick, although he felt guilty that he had imposed on him so much already.
“No, I would be happy to. Do you want me to pack a few things for you in case you need to stay longer?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, Buddy, great. Thank you.” Matt was relieved that he wouldn’t have to worry about leaving LeAnn. He reached in his pocket for his keys, took the condo key off the key chain, and handed it to Nick.
Nick took the key and hesitated, “Umm, can I ask you two something?”
“Shoot,” Ben said.
“Well, seeing as Matt’s hand is not going to be healed anytime soon, I was thinking that maybe I should pack up some stuff of my own and come back and stay to help with the girls.”
It hit Matt that Nick may have feelings for Hannah and that he wanted to keep an eye on her, just like he wanted to be with LeAnn. But, aside from that, Nick was right, Matt’s hand made him handicapped in doing anything.
Matt looked at his dad. “Dad, Nick has a good point. My hand is killing me, and I’m going to be on pain pills, so he really is needed out here to help not only me but Mom. You can get along without him, can’t you? I mean, we let a few of the staff go because of the off-season. I’m sure if you called one of them, you’d get help for the kitchen and the bar.”
Ben looked at both the boys and feeling he was being ambushed. “I get it boys. The seriousness of this situation is in your favor. Yeah, I’ll get someone. I definitely will need to get someone to help in the kitchen. I have a feeling your mother is going to want to stay here to watch over the girls.”
Just then Margaret walked in. “What? Who’s leaving?” She asked, a frightened look in her eyes.
Ben explained what they had been discussing.
“No, I don’t want you to leave, Ben.” She was emphatic. She was scared.
“Mom, what’s wrong with you today?” Matt was now really concerned. He had never seen his Mom this upset.
Ben spoke up. “Oh, she’s all worried that she saw something last night outside LeAnn’s window. Now, she’s afraid to be out here.”
“Mom, is that true? You saw something? What did you see?”
Margaret, angry at her husband, not because he had told them about her seeing something, but for ridiculing her, defensively said, “Nothing! I saw nothing and your father can leave at anytime. I’ll stay and take care of you and the girls.” She stormed off to the kitchen, where no one would see her cry.
Ben looked at his son, rolled his eyes, and followed his wife to the kitchen.
Matt and Nick looked at each other and wondered, what in the world had just happened.
“I’d better go see what’s going on,” Matt said.
Nick nodded. “I’m going up to check on Hannah. I want to tell her I’m going to the resort, but that I’ll be back.”
Matt walked into the kitchen and saw his dad consoling his mother.
“Mom, please talk to me. What in the world happened?”
His mother looked at him with red eyes. She hesitated and then spoke. “I was coming out of the bathroom last night and thought I heard music. No, I don’t think I did, I did hear music. I thought it was you downstairs listening to the radio or something. I came downstairs to check and saw you and Nick asleep. There was no television or radio on. I realized that the music must have been coming from outside, so I went back upstairs to check on the girls before going to bed. When I went in LeAnn’s room….” Margaret stopped and looked at her husband and then at her son. She continued, “Matt, there was a bright light floating outside her bedroom window.”
“Now, Margaret,” Ben started.
“No, Ben!” she shouted at him, “I saw it! It was a bright light, and it was floating outside her window like it was watching her. It was frightening! No light just floats! It’s not normal!”
“Mom?” Matt spoke softly. “Listen, you too, Dad. LeAnn has spoken of a floating light at the boathouse. She never said anything about seeing it here at the house, but she has seen it outside on the walkway at the boathouse.”
Both his parents looked at him. No one said anything, for awhile.
Matt broke the silence. “I think whatever the floating light is it has something to do with what happened to the girls yesterday. I think you two should sit down. I’ll get Nick and then I’m going to tell all of you everything LeAnn has told me. I feel bad because I didn’t believe her. But mom, now that you have seen it, I have to believe.” As he started to walk out of the room he turned, and looked at his distraught mother, “Mom, I believe you.”
Margaret smiled at her son, relieved that someone believed her. The tears again weld up in her eyes.
Matt’s parents were waiting for him and Nick at the dining room table.
Matt cleared his throat, “Okay, here goes. Mom and Dad, you remember when LeAnn and I were having dinner, and I told you she was staying at my condo?”
They both nodded yes.
“Well, what you don’t know is LeAnn had called me the night before about one in the morning scared to death. She told me that something had tried to kill her in the boathouse.” Matt paused and looked at his mom, then continued. “She said that she had heard music first.”
Mrs. Weston gasped, and the color drained from her face. “Go on.” She urged.
Matt cautiously continued. “As I said, LeAnn heard music. She went down to checkout the boathouse because she thought the music was coming from there.”
“The boathouse? Why there?” Ben asked.
“I don’t know, Dad. That’s just what she said, but she had also seen a floating light on the walkway. So she decided that she would go and investigate. She thought that Mrs. Tabor was down there.”
“Mrs. Tabor?” Both his parents asked surprised.
Nick just sat speechless. It felt like he was watching some bizarre spooky movie.
“Why Mrs. Tabor? She’s been dead for probably seventy or eighty years!” Ben exclaimed.
Matt shrugged, “I don’t know. She said something about Mrs. Tabor dying when Amelia Tabor was five years old. LeAnn thought the light was Mrs. Tabor, and she was her daughter’s guardian angel. But, when LeAnn went into the boathouse, she was locked in and attacked by some phantom wind. Maybe the same wind that attacked the girls yesterday. The wind that I saw when I rescued them.”
“Matt, this all doesn’t make sense. It’s just nuts!” Ben said, perturbed. Matt knew his father only believed in logic, and there was nothing logical about this.
“Really, Ben? Does it really sound nuts? Margaret said, anger and sarcasm in her voice. “Then I’m nuts too for hearing the music and then seeing the floating light outside LeAnn’s bedroom window.”
No one said anything more for awhile.
For the first time, Nick spoke. “So, what do you think happened to the girls yesterday?”
Matt looked at his friend and responded, “I think they were attacked. I finally believe there is something out there in that boathouse that is angry, and I believe it might be dangerous. I heard its voice. A very angry voice, as I pulled the LeAnn out.”
Again, no one spoke.
They all jumped when Matt’s cell phone rang. He reached for his phone in his pocket. “Hello? Oh, hi, Doc.
“How are the girls?” Dr. Lyons asked.
“I think better. They had tea and toast for breakfast. They both said they felt extremely hung over.”
“I’m glad to hear that they ate a little something. That’s a good sign. I’m sure they do feel hung over. I gave them a fairly strong sedative. Make sure they get plenty of rest at least for today. I know they’ll be antsy to get up and moving, but I’d rather they stay down for at least one more day. I don’t think they’ll need another shot or prescription for valium but if they do get anxious let me know.”
“Actually Dr. Lyons, I know that LeAnn has valium here. Probably from when her parents died.”
“Good. Don’t hesitate to give her one if she needs it. I’d like to know the milligrams before you give one to Hannah. One person’s prescription isn’t necessarily good for someone else,” the doctor warned.
“I can run up real fast and check if you want,” offered Matt.
“No need now. Call me later and let me know. I’ll want an update on the girl’s condition in a couple of hours.”
“Okay, Doc, you got it. And, doctor, thank you for everything.”
“You’re welcome, Matt.” Then he quickly asked, “Oh, Matt, how is your hand?”
“Throbbing,” Matt said in one word.
“Keep taking your pills, and don’t forget to ice it!”
“I know, and I will. Thanks, Doc.”
“You’re welcome. Good-bye.” The doctor hung up.
Upstairs LeAnn and Hannah were both awake in Hannah’s bed.
“LeAnn, what do you think the black mist was?” Hannah asked, propping her on her arm.
LeAnn looked at her, “You remember, don’t you?”
“Don’t you?”
“Yeah, it’s starting to come back to me, but I wish it wouldn’t.” LeAnn looked up at the ceiling.
Hannah kept on, “Are you scared? Cause I know that I am. I want to go home.”
“Yes, Hannah, I’m very scared. This wasn’t the first time I experienced something in the ballroom, but the mist, that was new.”
“That’s why you made so many excuses not to take me to the boathouse. We were trapped, weren’t we?” Hannah remembered how helpless she had felt.
“I think we were. Some of it is a little foggy. That’s why I want you to stay with me. We need to figure this out together,” LeAnn urged.
“I know, but it’s just so scary. Like some horrific nightmare, but I actually lived it. We actually lived it. It wasn’t a nightmare, LeAnn, we were there. And you just said it wasn’t the first time for you!”
“I know, Hannah, I know. Please stay one more day? Just one?” LeAnn was begging.
Hannah leaned over and hugged her friend but didn’t answer.
They lay back against the headboard. LeAnn said, “I need to take a shower. I’m going to go back to my room before Mrs. Weston or her son can come in and stop me.”
The girls giggled and hugged again. LeAnn slowly got out of bed. As her feet touched the floor, she could see she had her balance was back, somewhat. She slipped her feet into the slippers waiting on the floor, turned and smiled weakly at Hannah, and slowly walked out of the room holding on to the wall to keep her balance.
Matt was telling his parents and Nick what Dr. Lyons had said, when they heard the shower turn on up above.
“I guess they’re up,” said Nick looking up at the ceiling.
“Yeah,” Matt frowned. “Per Dr. Lyons orders, we have to keep them down, resting, and quiet. We are not going to ask them any questions. Got that, Dad?” Matt glared at his dad. “The doctor doesn’t want the girls to get upset. He said to give them a valium if they did.
“I really don’t think we should drug them up again,” Matt’s mom said concerned.
“Me neither,” threw in Nick.
“Dad, you’ll behave, right?” Matt warned.
Margaret answered for her husband, “He will,” glaring at him.
“Yeah, yeah, all right. I won’t do anything.” he pushed his chair back, “Nick, take me back to the resort. I have more important things to do than have these two all over me.” Ben Weston stood up and stomped off for his bag in the upstairs guest room.
Margaret turned to her son, “Matt, I wasn’t going to stay because of what happened last night, but I can’t see leaving you and Nick here by yourselves with the girls. Besides, you’re almost helpless with your injured hand.” Then as a second thought she added, “Have you taken any pills today and iced your hand like the doctor told you to?”
Matt looked at his throbbing hand and quietly said, “No,”
“I didn’t think so.” She marched into the kitchen.
Matt looked over at Nick, “Are you sure you don’t mind taking my dad back to the resort and bringing me some clothes and stuff back?”
Nick smiled, “Not crazy about being in the boat with your dad being all riled up, but happy to get you your stuff.”
Matt winced with pain and pulled his hand up as his mother walked in carrying a bag of ice and a glass of water. “Here, take these.” Handing her son the ice bag and glass, “Where are your pills?” she demanded.
“I think I left them on the table by the couch I slept on.”
She headed for the living room, “I’ll get them.”
Matt placed the ice bag on his inflamed hand. It hurt worse than he ever thought possible. Thank goodness Nick and his mom were going to stay out here with him. There was no way he could take care of the two girls by himself. Not like this.
He heard his grumbling Dad coming down the stairs. “Nick, let’s go!”
Nick looked at Matt and shook his head. “Okay, Mr. Weston. I’m ready.”
“Sorry, Nick. I owe you,” Matt said in an apologetic voice to his friend.
Margaret met Ben at the front door. “Oh, cool off, Benjamin. You’re not as macho as you think you are. You can come back when the girls are ready to talk about what happened to them. Right now, we have to think of their health.” Matt’s mom was in her take-charge mode again, and Matt was relieved.
As Ben and Nick said their good-byes, Matt’s phone went off again. “Oh, Dr. Lyons! Hold on and let me check.” Matt had forgotten to check LeAnn’s valium dosage and milligrams. He ran up the stairs two by two. He walked into LeAnn’s room just as she was pulling on clean sweats.
“Oh, Matt!”
“Oops! Sorry, LeAnn!” he said, his facing turning red. “I need to see your valium prescription bottle.”
She looked at him questioningly but didn’t move. Matt went to her bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. He read the bottle to Dr. Lyons. “Okay, Doc. I got it. Yeah, they’re awake.” Pausing then, “Thank you. Good-bye.”
He came out of the bathroom, and looked over at LeAnn. There were dark circles around her eyes, and she still was very pale. He smiled at her, “Hi kiddo. How you doing?”
She smiled back and answered honestly, “I don’t know. What was that all about?”
“Oh, Dr. Lyons wanted me to tell him what your dosage and milligrams were of your valium, in case you and Hannah needed something. He didn’t know if Hannah’s system could handle what your doctor had prescribed for you.”
“And?” she asked with a tired smile.
“Yours are too strong for Hannah, so he’s sending a messenger over to Ridgewood’s with some for her.”
They stood for awhile staring at each other. Then Matt ended the silence with, “Nick is taking my dad back to Ridgewood’s and getting me some of my clothes. Then he’ll come back with Hannah’s prescription, and stay with us. My mom is staying too.”
LeAnn spoke in a soft voice, “I’m glad. Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come when you did.” She started to cry and he hurried over to take her in his arms. He held her tight and kissed the top of her head.
She broke down. “Oh, Matt, I can’t tell you how awful it was! I can’t ever explain the fear I felt! I really, really thought we were going to die. This thing -”
Matt interrupted her to keep her from doing exactly what Dr. Lyons didn’t want her to do.
“Stop, LeAnn, stop it. Don’t do this. You don’t have to talk about it or think about it. Not now!” He held her shaking body. Is this what Dr. Lyons meant when he said Matt should give her a Valium? Matt didn’t know. LeAnn was now crying and shaking at the same time. He sat her down on the bed, went into the bathroom, got a Valium out of the bottle, and a glass of water. He hurried back to her.
“Here take this.”
“Nooo,” she moaned.
“Please, LeAnn. For me?” he begged. He didn’t want her drugged, but he didn’t want her to think about what happened to her. Not just yet.
Reluctantly, LeAnn took the pill and glass of water he was holding out to her. She swallowed and handed the glass back.
“Thank you,” he said taking the glass and putting it back in the bathroom.
“I want to go downstairs,” she said looking at him.
“Are you sure?” He asked, remembering Dr. Lyons saying he wanted them to stay in bed.
“Please?”
Matt smiled at her and took her by the arm. Slowly they went down the steps and into the living room. Hannah was already there sitting with Mrs. Weston.
LeAnn went over to Hannah and hugged her as if her life depended on it. Mrs. Weston tried to console the crying girls. She looked up at her son with an expression that said, “What happened to them?”
Matt looked back at his mother and mouthed in silence, “I don’t know.”