The next hour was a blur. I think my pain meds were kicking in, or maybe it was the letdown from finally telling my secret about using Flip’s computer. Whatever it was, I sank into the couch and barely moved. All around me there was action. Everyone had phones hanging out of their ears. As I went in and out of sleep, I heard the names Eric, Tyler, Sunday, Rusty, Flip, and even Bob Hansen, the head business guy from Swiftriver. Someone said something about a passport. I thought I heard Chuck’s voice coming from another room, but I was too tired to go ask him anything about his son. How could Lucky Chuck have a bad guy for a son? And what made him bad anyway? Then I dreamed that I was a ping-pong ball in an Olympic tournament. Thankfully, I woke up from that pretty quickly. Unfortunately, the bruises were real.
“Riley, wake up.” Mom shook me a little too hard.
“Owww.”
“Sorry. We have to pack. We’re going to Missoula tonight.”
“Why?”
“It’s just better that we go tonight. Go get your suitcase and pack for a couple of days.” Mom pushed a button on her phone and put it up to her ear.
I rubbed my face and tried to shake the mushiness out of my brain. “We’re coming back here, right?”
“Well, maybe you better pack everything. At least all your clothes. And shoes.” Mom shook her head, pushed another button and shoved her phone in her pants pocket.
“Oh no, not the shoes. There’s too many.”
“I’ll get Rusty to help you. She and her dad are coming too.” Mom started to whisper. “We’re telling them that Sunday’s bone marrow transplant has been moved up so we have to see him tomorrow. We reserved hotel rooms near the hospital. Come on, let’s go.”
“I’m sleepy.” I stood up and then sat back down. “And dizzy.”
“You’ll be okay. Just stand up slowly. I’ll go get you some juice.”
Mom scurried away before I got a chance to argue more.
Brady walked in pulling his suitcase. “Are you packed yet? Isn’t it great that we’re going to surprise Sunday tomorrow?”
I stretched and shook my foggy head. “Yeah, it’s super-duper.”
I stared back. “What?”
“You don’t look good. Would you like me to help you pack?”
I shook my head again. Surely my brother wasn’t offering to help me. Was he?
“I’ll get your suitcase,” he said. “What do you want me to pack first?”
I guess this was real. “Shoes, please. All of them.”
“For a two-day trip?”
I had to play along with the story. Again. “Yes, I don’t know which ones I’ll want to wear.”
“Okay, but you know you’re overpacking.”
“No doubt. That’s what sisters do, you know.”
“Then I’m glad I only have one.”
“Yeah, lucky you.”
I waited for him to finish up with a snappy comeback.
“Yes, I am pretty lucky. And I’m glad you’re okay, Riley.”
“What?”
“I’m glad you didn’t get hurt worse today.”
And off he went to pack my shoes. I pinched myself to see if I was still dreaming.
“Oww.”
Nope. That was my brother, all right.
I smiled and shook my head again. “Glad I only have one.”