Sisters

TWENTY-THREE




‘Excuse me, but who the hell are you?’ said Brian.

Alex smiled. ‘Unce Brian, this is your niece. Dory Colson.’

Brian struggled to control the expression on his face. ‘Really?’

‘Dory, this is Brian Reilly. My mother’s brother. Your uncle.’

‘How do you do?’ Dory asked coldly.

Brian looked somewhat chastened. ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘How did you find me?’ Alex asked Dory.

‘The cops came around,’ Dory said bluntly. ‘They were looking to blame me for this mess.’

‘I told them it wasn’t you,’ said Alex.

Dory shrugged. Then a little smile played around her lips. ‘I hear that Remus saved you?’

‘It’s true,’ said Alex.

‘Told you he was a good dog.’

‘You were right.’

‘So, if you want, I’ll stay in the house with you for a while. I figured you’d be pretty freaked out after this.’

‘I don’t want you to have to do that,’ Alex said.

‘I’m not gonna beg,’ Dory said irritably.

Brian looked pleadingly at Alex. ‘It’s nice of you to offer but I think Alex would be better off at our house.’

‘Whatever,’ said Dory. ‘I just came to make sure she was OK.’

Alex smiled at her. ‘Dory, if you’d be willing to stay with me for a few days, I’d really be grateful.’

‘I said I would,’ said Dory.

Brian shook his head. ‘Alex, I can’t stop you, but I really wish . . .’

Alex took his hand and squeezed it. ‘I know you’re concerned about me. And the truth is that I would feel apprehensive to be there alone. But I’ll feel safe with Dory in the house. Dory and I will be fine together.’ She looked up at Dory. ‘Won’t we?’

The next morning Dory came to the hospital and picked Alex up in Garth’s pick-up truck. ‘I’m not that used to driving anymore,’ she said.

‘It’s like riding a bicycle,’ said Alex. ‘You never forget how.’

‘I’m getting the hang of it back,’ said Dory. ‘I drove my Dad to work this morning and he gave me the truck to use. He said he can take the subway to work for a few days.’

‘Doesn’t he pick things up in his truck?’ Alex asked.

‘He’s got guys who work for him,’ said Dory.

‘How does your mom feel about this?’ Alex asked as she carefully climbed into the cab of the pick-up and settled herself, gingerly fastening her seat belt over her bandaged torso.

‘She feels fine,’ said Dory.

Alex nodded. Probably glad you are not in the house, she thought. ‘Well, thank you for coming for me.’

‘No problem,’ said Dory, concentrating on finding the entrance to the highway exit to Chichester.

Alex had to admit to herself, as the truck bounced along on its worn-down shocks, that she was a little more feeble than she had realized. She had been eager to get out of the hospital, but putting on the clothes and boots which Uncle Brian had brought her had proved to be a challenge. She was exhausted by the time she was dressed. Dory hadn’t been impatient, but she also hadn’t babied her at all. Instead of bringing the truck around for her, Dory had expected her to walk down to the garage and meet her there. It had taken a little doing, but Alex had managed. It was better that way, Alex told herself. Being self-reliant would help her to recover.

Now, as they pulled into the driveway, Alex felt a positive longing to crawl upstairs and into her bed. Just getting released from the hospital and making this short trip home had worn her out.

‘Watch your step,’ said Dory as they descended onto the walkway which they had shoveled, but which was still somewhat packed with snow.

Alex took one step and slid. She managed to keep herself upright but the sudden, jerky motion had caused the wound in her back to throb. She took a deep breath and then looked up. Dory extended a hand to her. Alex took it gratefully, and together they made their way up to the house.

Once she got into the house and managed to slowly climb the stairs to her room, Alex fell onto the bed and into a deep sleep. She was awakened by the sound of someone buzzing the front doorbell. She heard Dory answer it and there was a murmur of voices interrupted by barking. Remus was back. She had asked her uncle about the dog and he explained that Laney Thompson had kept Remus at her house while Alex was in the hospital. Laney must have noticed the truck in the driveway and brought the dog over.

Alex wanted to get up, walk to the top of the steps and call down to Laney. She wanted to ask Laney to call Seth and tell him what had happened. She felt oddly shy about doing it herself. She didn’t want him to think that she was pleading with him to come right back, but she had a feeling it would sound that way to him.

She felt pretty sure that he didn’t know. Who would think to tell him? Nobody knew about the kiss they had shared before he left, except Dory. But as much as she wanted to ask this favor of Laney, she was unable to get off of the bed and to the top of the stairs before she heard the front door closing again. Then she heard Dory talking to the dog as his nails clattered across the hardwood floors through the house. In a few minutes Alex was asleep again.

She awoke when Dory shook her shoulder.

‘Hey, wake up. I made you something to eat.’

Alex could smell it. ‘Chicken soup.’

‘They say it’s good for you,’ said Dory. ‘Do you want me to bring it up here, or can you come down and eat it?’

‘I better come down,’ said Alex. ‘The doctor said I should keep moving around. I’ll get my strength back sooner if I push myself a little bit.’

‘OK,’ said Dory. She walked out of Alex’s room and went down the steps.

Alex pulled herself to her feet and followed slowly in her wake.

As soon as he heard Alex coming down the stairs, Remus began to bark. She found the sound oddly comforting now. ‘Good boy,’ she said.

There were two bowls sitting on the table in the kitchen. Dory was already eating from hers. Alex sat down opposite her and picked up her spoon. She had a few mouthfuls. ‘It tastes good. Did you have to go out and buy this?’

Dory shook her head. ‘I found a can in the pantry. I just heated it up.’

The thought of the pantry was somewhat troubling to Alex. She glanced over in the direction of the deep closet which had always been her mother’s spare food cupboard. She was glad to see that the door was open.

Dory followed her gaze. ‘That’s where they were?’

Alex nodded.

Dory frowned. ‘Do you know who it was?’ she said.

Alex shook her head. ‘I have no idea.’

‘You’re lucky Remus was here,’ said Dory.

‘And that he didn’t eat the liver,’ Alex said.

‘Liver?’ Dory asked.

‘Whoever did this threw down a piece of poisoned liver for Remus. Hoping to shut him up, obviously. But he didn’t eat it.’

Dory summoned Remus to her side. When he sat down obediently beside her she began murmuring to him, calling him a good boy and rubbing him behind his ears.

‘Dory, I wanted to ask you something,’ said Alex.

Dory looked up at her blankly, still tugging on Remus’s ears.

‘Were you really mad at me about Seth?’

Dory frowned and her eyes clouded over. ‘Why? What do you care?’

‘I just want you to know,’ said Alex, ‘that there was nothing going on between me and Seth. Not until the other night. I had a crush on him but I didn’t even know it was mutual.’

‘Well, lucky you,’ said Dory.

‘Dory, I mean it,’ said Alex. ‘I was not playing any kind of game. I did not mean to make you angry.’

‘It’s no big deal,’ said Dory. ‘He’s just another guy.’

‘OK, well. It’s important that we clear this up,’ said Alex.

‘Why?’ Dory asked.

‘Well, because I don’t want you to have the wrong idea about me.’

‘You mean, like I did about Lauren?’ Dory asked coolly. ‘About Lauren and Rick. Don’t worry. I’m not crazy. I still think there was something going on with Rick. But I didn’t kill her, and I didn’t try to kill you.’

‘I know that,’ said Alex.

An uneasy silence fell between them.

Finally Alex said, ‘Your father told me something about Lauren that might interest you.’

Dory frowned. ‘What?’

‘He said that Lauren was gay.’

Dory pushed her chair back from the table. ‘What?’ she cried. ‘No way. That’s a lie. She had boyfriends.’

‘That’s what he told me,’ Alex insisted.

Dory dismissed this notion with a wave of her hand. ‘No. Lauren was gonna get married. To another singer. Some guy named Henley. Walker Henley. He always wears a big white cowboy hat on stage. My parents were all excited about it. My mother was planning the wedding. They were going to have it in Opryland down in Nashville. He lives in Nashville. He came to visit one time when she was home. I remember. He was a pretty nice guy. Too nice for her. But then they broke up.’

‘Do you know why they broke up?’ Alex asked.

Dory frowned. ‘She was too concerned with her precious career. They broke up because Lauren worked too hard.’

‘I don’t think that was the real reason,’ said Alex. ‘I think the reason was that Lauren was gay. She kept it secret so it wouldn’t destroy her career. They’re not real big on gay people in the country music world.’

Dory gave her a withering, sidelong glance. ‘Why did he tell you that?’

‘I was suggesting to him that maybe you were right to be jealous about Lauren and Rick. That maybe they were going behind your back.’

Dory peered at her. ‘You were defending me?’

Alex nodded. ‘That’s why he told me. Plus, I guess there’s no reason to hide it anymore. Since Lauren is dead.’

The expression in Dory’s eyes was pained. ‘I don’t believe this. They tell you, but they don’t tell me? Why wouldn’t they tell me?’

Alex feigned ignorance. ‘Maybe Lauren asked them not to.’

Dory scowled. ‘I have to think about this.’ She got up abruptly from the table and grabbed her jacket from the utility room.

‘Where are you going?’ Alex asked.

‘I just need to take a walk. Clear my head.’

‘You’re going out?’ Alex cried, and she could hear the anxiety in her own voice.

‘I’m not a prisoner here, am I?’ Dory asked in a sarcastic tone.

Alex shook her head. ‘No,’ she whispered.

‘I won’t go far,’ Dory said, more gently. ‘Put your phone in your pocket, just in case.’

‘I should do that,’ said Alex. ‘Where is my phone?’

‘I saw it in the dining room.’ Dory snapped a leash onto Remus’s collar. She opened the back door. You’re taking Remus too, Alex wanted to protest. But she forced herself not to. It sounded so . . . weak. Dory looked at her. ‘Remus needs to get a walk. We won’t be long. You can lock the doors if you’re scared. By the way,’ she said, ‘the locksmith was here while you were sleeping. Nobody can open this back door with a credit card anymore.’

‘That’s good,’ said Alex in a shaky voice.

‘It’s broad daylight, for God’s sake. Go get your phone. I’ll wait until you have it.’

Alex obediently rose from her chair and shuffled into the dining room. Her phone was on the sideboard. ‘I’ve got it,’ she said. There was a text from Louis Orenstein, saying that he’d heard from Brian, and that Alex should stay at home and stay safe until she felt better. There were twelve missed calls and a text message from Seth.

‘OK. We’re going now,’ said Dory. ‘Lock the door.’

Alex shuffled back to the kitchen door and turned the stiff new lock behind Dory as she and Remus lunged out into the snow. You’re fine, she told herself. You’re perfectly safe. She punched in Seth’s number and waited, with dwindling hopes, as it rang and rang. Finally it went to voicemail.

‘Hi . . . Seth,’ she said. ‘This is . . . Alex. Sorry I missed your calls. I was . . . away.’ She wanted to tell him everything, but she didn’t want to recite it into the phone. She wanted to beg him to drop everything and come home, but she knew better. He needed to tie up all his loose ends while he was out there. And she was fine. Dory was here. ‘Everything’s fine here. Hope the move is going . . . OK. I’ll speak to you soon.’ She paused, not sure how to sign off. ‘’Bye,’ she said and ended the call, feeling stupid. She slipped the phone into the pocket of her sweatshirt and went through the house to the front door, to be sure that it too was locked.