The Haunted - Jessica Verday [2]
The buzzing was growing fainter, but my stomach was still flip-flopping. “I can’t,” I blurted out. Thinking as quickly as I could, I added, “I’m not supposed to come home until the end of June.”
“We know it’s earlier than expected, but you’ve made remarkable progress,” said Mom.
“The weekly reports from your therapist have shown such improvement.” Her tone was enthusiastic, but I couldn’t tell if she was trying to convince me, or herself. Mom never called Dr.
Pendleton my psychologist. He was always my “therapist.” She was obviously where I got my avoidance issues from.
“Dad, I… I… can’t. Tell Mom that I can’t do this. I’m not ready. I need more time.”
“I know, I know.” He sighed heavily. “It’s just that the town council wants you to be a part of this, and it would really please your mother.…”
“I’ve been working on it for weeks. We’ve already cleared it with your doctor,” Mom said.
“The dedication ceremony will be on the twelfth.”
What? “You talked to Dr. Pendleton about this before you talked to me?”
“Well, we didn’t want to impede your progress. We wanted to make sure that something like this wouldn’t be harmful.”
“Don’t you think that I have a right to be talked to first? Since I’m the one being asked to do it?”
“Don’t you think that it’s appropriate for you to be there for Kristen? She was your best friend.”
Guilt-trip city. Mom was pulling out the big guns now. But two could play at that game.
“But isn’t my therapy more important, Mother?” I asked sweetly. “Are you telling me to come home and not finish all of my arranged sessions with Dr. Pendleton?” If eyebrows made noises, I swear hers were making one right now as they shot up.
“I don’t think coming home a couple of weeks early is too much to ask,” Mom huffed. “Your doctor—”
“Dad?” I interrupted her. “Dad, please? Please don’t make me do this. Don’t make me go back to the spot where my best friend died. I need more time to make sure I’m all better.”
“I know this is difficult for you, but your mother…” Dad sighed again. “Just think about it, okay, sweetie? That’s all we’re asking for right now.” Mom started to say something, but he stopped her. “Just take tonight to think it over, and we’ll discuss it again in the morning.”
I sniffled. I tried to hold it back, but the tears were breaking through anyway. Kristen… the river… The wound was still so fresh. The ache in my heart still so unbearable.
“Okay, Dad. I’ll thi—” My voice broke. “I’ll think about it.”
“That’s good, Abbey. Really good. We’ll talk tomorrow,” he murmured.
I forced out a quick good-bye and hung up the phone. Just before the backlight grew dark, I caught the date on the tiny screen below me. June ninth. The same day that Kristen went missing last year. The same day that my life changed forever. And here it was, changing again when I didn’t want it to.
June ninths were really starting to suck.
˜ ˜ ˜
I picked up the phone again and called Dr. Pendleton’s office before I lost my nerve. His secretary answered and put me through. A half second later his voice-mail greeting started to play.
I waited for the beep and then spoke in a rush. “Hi, Dr. Pendleton, this is Abbey… um, Abigail Browning. I was calling to speak to you about my parents. They want me to go home early, and they said you told them that I could. Why wasn’t this brought up in our session today? Please call me back.…” I left my name again and my phone number, then hung up.
How could they do this to me? Was I ready? What if I couldn’t go back? What if I couldn’t be a part of that ceremony? What if I wasn’t better?
Would they still be there?
Would he?
I dropped the phone on the bed and moved to the door. I needed to talk to Aunt Marjorie about this. She would know what to do.
I found her on the porch swing outside, moving slowly back and forth. She stopped for a moment at my unspoken request and I sat down. It didn’t take very long for her to start swinging again, and the chains supporting us squeaked as