Days later, Cathy was still brooding over the last conversation with Michael. She didn’t think about him all of the time, of course. She had Chloe to think about, and she spent much of her time visiting with her daughter. She had her work to catch up on. Yet always in the back of her mind, there was the reality that she had broken it off with Michael. She wasn’t certain how she felt about it. Whatever else, it didn’t seem finished.
“You’re so apathetic, Cathy.” Pam was hovering again. Her face was filled with concern. She gestured at the chicken salad on the plate that Cathy had barely touched. “You’re not taking care of yourself. You don’t remember to eat. You don’t sleep. Now you’re telling me that you’ve been sick. What are you going to do about it?”
Cathy shrugged. She pushed the chicken salad with her fork. “As long as Chloe continues to improve, it doesn’t matter.”
Pam tightened her lips and looked pointedly at her. “You and Michael…you’ve broken up, haven’t you? That’s part of it, isn’t it?”
Cathy’s gaze flew to her sister’s face. “How did you…?”
“Vicky told me. She heard you talking to Michael. He’s still calling, isn’t he?”
Cathy dropped her gaze. “Pam, let it go. I’m tired, that’s all. I just want to be left alone.”
“No, you’re going to the doctor. I’m worried. I’m making an appointment, and you’re going to go.”
Cathy sighed, but she didn’t protest anymore. She knew Pam wouldn’t let up. She would insist that Cathy listen until she finally agreed. Ever since she had gone to stay with her sister and brother-in-law, Pam had bullied and cajoled her about her health and well-being. Sometimes it was simpler just to give in.
Her sister wouldn’t let her take the Lexus but insisted on driving her to the appointment. “I want to make sure you actually go.”
Cathy looked at her, raising her brows. “I’m not a child.” But Pam just thinned her mouth again in that determined way that Cathy was beginning to recognize.
Braking in front of the medical center, Pam turned in her seat. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?”
Cathy pushed back a stray curl. She unbuckled the seat belt. “I don’t want you to be stuck here. I may have to wait forever. I’ll call you when I’m done, okay?”
Pam nodded, but reluctantly. After Cathy got out of the car, she leaned over to wave and then slowly drove away. Cathy didn’t wait to watch her sister’s rental leave the parking lot. She wanted to get in out of the cold, and she hurried through the doors of the medical center.
The afternoon was waning when Cathy called for her sister to pick her up. As soon as Pam drove up, Cathy emerged from the medical building and climbed into the vehicle’s welcome heat. She scarcely acknowledged her sister’s greeting. She was still reeling from the physician’s verdict.
“Well? What did the doctor say?”
Cathy hedged with the truth. “He said a lot about stress factors. He prescribed some vitamins and recommended some changes in my diet.”
Pam huffed. “I could have told you that much!”
“Pam, I want you to drop me off at the apartment.”
Pam’s head was turned away as she looked for a break in the traffic, but at Cathy’s bald statement, she slewed back around. She shot a startled, dismayed glance at her. “Cathy! What for?”
Cathy sighed. She sometimes felt that Pam and John would smother her with their overconcern. Strangely enough, she didn’t experience the old familiar sensations of a burgeoning panic attack. She hadn’t had one since her daughter had started recovering. She didn’t know what that meant, but she was grateful for it. Yet that didn’t negate her compelling need to be by herself, at least for the evening. There was just only so much bottled up emotion that she could stand. “Pam, just humor me, okay?”
Pam sucked in her breath, her face reddening. She snapped angrily, “What is going on in your head, Cathy! You know that John and I want you stay with us. That’s why we’re here, to take care of you and Chloe!”
Cathy curled her fingers into her palms. “I just want to be alone for tonight. You can pick me up in the morning. Okay? Please, Pammy.”