Twenty-four hours. That’s all it takes for a world to fall apart.
Zack was right. Juliet wasn’t prepared for the onslaught. She is astounded at the intensity of the media storm, even though she’s seen them time and time again. Hospital security has to be doubled—reporters keep trying to sneak in and take photographs of Mindy and Zack, Lauren and Jasper. The Vail police have their hands full with the sudden inundation of news trucks from every Denver station as well as all the cable news vans.
The media legion brings out the lookie-loos. People are filming the front of the hospital like it is some sort of multi-vehicle car crash, hoping for blood to spill and people to run away screaming. Twitter and Facebook have blown up, the hashtags #violetmindy and #violetisalive are trending. There isn’t a corner of the country, and probably the English-speaking world, that isn’t now aware that the lost Armstrong baby has been found.
Jasper and Lauren put out a statement asking for privacy in the face of their daughter’s medical emergency, but it doesn’t matter. Mindy Wright, aka Violet Armstrong, is news everywhere.
The child in question is not unaware of the attention. Though vetoed by her parents, she has insisted on watching, and the television is on while Zack’s plasma drips into her veins. She has very little energy, the last blast of chemo saw to that, but Juliet can see the life spark in her eyes while Mindy watches clips of herself shooting down the side of mountain after mountain, the small winces when the crash is replayed over and over, or when the photographs of a young, happy Vivian and Zack are shown. She can only imagine what is going through the kid’s mind. Mindy has never shied away from the spotlight before—she is a damn good skier, takes pride in it. She isn’t cocky, but confident, and totally capable of talking to reporters and handling herself. Part of her appeal to the ski world is how great she comes across in front of a camera and microphone.
But now, shrunken, casted, bald and gray, how will the world who loves the vibrant young skier feel about her? Juliet knows her niece well enough to believe she won’t be comfortable with the world seeing her in her current state.
Which is fine, because the media has enough fodder to work with until Mindy grants them an interview. On cable news, videotape of the crash, of Mindy’s skiing, is being shown on a loop. Her coach is interviewed, her teammates harassed. The press conference Woody held flashes every few minutes, Detective Starr and Sergeant Parks by his side, along with several other CBI folks and more she doesn’t recognize, probably the feds who’ve attached themselves to the case. Child psychologists extrapolate Mindy is trying to make up for a lack of real maternal care by throwing herself into extreme sports. If she’d only been breastfed, Juliet hears one of them say, and bites back a laugh as Mindy rolls her eyes and flips the channel.
Her insta-celebrity as the missing Violet Armstrong is a surprising step up for an already famous kid known for her prowess and daring.
Piles of teddy bears and flowers and candles create a shrine outside the hospital doors. A couple of times a day, Juliet selects one or two of the cutest animals and brings them in, places them on the window ledge overlooking Mindy’s room so that she can see them.
She’ll be in isolation for a while, making sure the transplant takes. It is going to be a long few days.
Lauren and Jasper have been exceptionally quiet, leaning against one another, answering whatever questions are posed to them but not offering up anything themselves.
Everyone knows everything has changed. There is no going back in time, to when Mindy was simply a sick kid, and Lauren and Jasper were holding on for dear life to get her well.
Juliet stands outside Mindy’s door, watching the process. It is amazing that something so benign looking can save a life. The cells, packed into a sterile bag, drip, drip, drip into Mindy’s arm as she distractedly watches the television screen. Juliet sees Lauren’s eyes watching the drips as well, intently, counting them, as if she can infuse the blood with strength.
She has to make things right with her sister. The need is so pressing, so intense, Juliet has to shut her eyes and ball her hands into fists to handle the surge of emotion. Love? Hate? Fear? All of the above, plus a healthy dose of anger. Juliet is hurt that Lauren didn’t trust her, pushed her away. Hurt. That’s it. She’s been hurt by Lauren plenty of times in the past, blithely ignoring her sister’s barbs or inattention, but this is different.
She can’t help but feel something else is wrong, and she has no idea what that might be. But Juliet is an adult, and she needs to fix this. Emboldened, she reaches over and touches Lauren’s hair, tucking a piece back behind her small, neat ear. Lauren twitches but doesn’t pull away.
“Lauren. Can we talk?”
Jasper shoots her a glance. “Haven’t you done enough?”
“I haven’t done anything you didn’t ask me to do. I just want to talk to my sister.”
“It’s okay, Jasper.” Lauren lays a hand on his arm, smiling at him softly. “What is it, Juliet?”
“I’m sorry you feel like I’m responsible for all of this. I just wanted to help.”
“I know you did. Don’t worry. This isn’t about you anymore.”
There is something about the way she says it that makes Juliet want to slap her, but she resists, lets the urge pass.
“Listen, what do you need? I know you’re going to stay here for the next couple of days. I can go to the house and bring back whatever you might have forgotten. Fresh clothes, toothbrushes, anything. I’m going stir crazy here, I gotta get out and stretch my legs.”
“How will you get past the media? They’re camped outside, and I bet a few are at the house waiting, just in case.”
“I can do it. I can get a police escort if I have to. They won’t be able to stop me. Seriously, do you need anything?”
It is Jasper who answers. “No. We don’t. The house is locked up so none of the media can peer in, and we’re fine. Thank you, Juliet.” So dismissive, so hard. When did he become this person? She barely recognizes him.
“Are you sure?”
Lauren glances once at Jasper, then nods. “I think it’s best that you don’t go near the house.” She’s become an automaton, parroting Jasper. She’s given up, Juliet realizes. She thinks Zack is going to take Mindy away, and she’s given up.
“My clothes are in there, so I’m going to go get them. I’ll find a hotel room. I’ll get Zack’s things, too. We wouldn’t want to be an imposition on you.”
“Maybe that’s best,” Lauren murmurs.
“I wish you’d stop blaming me. My God, all I did was find the man who’s saving her life. Why am I suddenly the villain here?”
At the twin looks of anger on the faces of the only family she has, Juliet storms out of the room, not caring that Mindy has heard her outburst and is watching her retreat with concern.
She doesn’t understand Jasper and Lauren, not one bit. And it pisses her off they are treating her like she is some sort of monster, like she’s brought this hell down upon them.
She does have a plan mapped out for leaving the hospital grounds. There is a back door out into the lower parking lot from the floor below the ground-level cafeteria. She’s already gone out there once to check, and no one of note was hanging around. This time, she goes full speed, not bothering to look as she crashes out the door.
She reaches her truck without incident. She unlocks the doors, and as she climbs in, a face appears on her passenger side, making her jump with fright until she realizes it is a familiar face. Jasper.
She presses the lever and the window whirs down.
“What is it?”
“You need to stop upsetting Lauren. She’s very fragile right now.”