Save Me - Lisa Scottoline [15]
“Eileen thinks I didn’t even try.”
“Eileen doesn’t know the facts and she wants someone to blame. She doesn’t know us, either.” Leo cocked his head. “Please, who do you think Eileen would rescue? Melly or Amanda?”
Rose didn’t reply. “That poor kid.”
“Which poor kid? Melly or Amanda? Don’t get mixed up.”
“Amanda is the poor kid. Melly is fine, Amanda isn’t.”
“Point taken.” Leo paused, his eyes softening. “Listen, I know it’s terrible, but you have to be realistic. Amanda might not make it.”
Rose suppressed the emotion that welled up. “I’d hate to be responsible for that.”
“Then don’t. You’re not. We just went through the analysis.”
Mommy!
“Please stop beating yourself up, Ro.” Leo pushed out his chair and got up heavily from the table. “You’re supposed to save your own child. That’s why we each get a mother. My mother would’ve saved me, no question. My mother would’ve walked on bodies to save me, and you’re an even better mother than she was.”
Rose managed a smile. Leo was a great man, and she was lucky to have him, especially when the chips were down.
“Come on, sweetie.” Leo picked up his silverware, let it clatter onto the plate, and lifted his dish. “The baby’s at the sitter, but the clock is running. Let’s go to the hospital.”
Chapter Ten
Rose looked out the window of Leo’s sporty Audi, dismayed as they pulled into the hospital parking lot. They’d picked up her car at school and dropped it back off at home, since Leo didn’t want her driving herself to the hospital. It turned out he’d been right, but for a different reason. The main entrance was crowded with people, security guards and reporters with videocameras. Klieglights on metallic stalks sprouted above everyone, like steel sunflowers.
“We got company,” Leo said, cutting the ignition. The air conditioning hissed into silence.
“Do you think that Amanda—” Rose started to say, but the sentence trailed off.
“No. I checked online before we left the house.”
“I wonder how she is.”
“We’ll see. First, we gotta get through the media. Here’s some free legal advice.” Leo patted her leg. “Stay with me. Say nothing. Keep moving. Don’t put your head down, it makes you look guilty.”
“I feel guilty.”
“You shouldn’t. Please, remember, we’re going to visit our daughter. It’s not about Amanda, it’s about Melly, who almost died today.”
Rose flashed on the smoke in the bathroom. “You’re right.”
“As usual.” Leo flashed her a grim smile, and they got out of the car. The air was barely cooling, though the sun had dropped behind the trees. The streetlights along Allen Road were beginning to glow, as was the red neon CVS sign, the McDonald’s, the Olive Garden, and the Target. Rose drove the main drag so often she felt as if she’d lived here five years, but she hadn’t been to the hospital until today.
Leo took her arm and walked with her toward the entrance. Heads started to turn as they approached, then klieglights and videocameras. She held her chin up and kept pace with him, moving forward even when Tanya and her TV crew came running toward them, followed by other reporters and photographers.
“Hello, Ms. McKenna!” Tanya called out, on the run. “A few questions, please. What happened with Amanda in the cafeteria this morning? This is your chance to set the record straight.”
“No comment.” Rose masked her worry. She hadn’t realized there was a record.
“Ms. McKenna, talk to me and get your story out. My offer’s still good on that one-on-one. Tell me what happened, from your point of view. Can’t we set that up?”
“She said no comment, thanks.” Leo put up his hand, keeping them both walking ahead, but Tanya fell into step with them.
“Ms. McKenna, if you don’t tell your side of the story, it leaves everyone to speculate. Eileen Gigot alleges that you chose to rescue your child to the detriment of three other children, including Amanda. Is that true?”
Oh no. Rose kept her chin up, even as other reporters joined the flock, yelling more questions.
“Ms. McKenna, did you complain to anyone about Amanda, calling her a bully?” “Ms.