Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(8)

But someone had saved them. Robin knew she hadn’t imagined it. There was a man. He had dark hair and a square jaw. He looked vaguely familiar, like maybe he was a weekender who came up to the lake fairly often. Not a local, but someone familiar.

Someone tapped on the door. It was a nurse.

“How you feeling?”

Robin blinked. “Tired.”

“You should sleep.” The nurse looked pointedly at Emma. “Is your dad around, honey?”

“I think he said he was talking to someone about insurance or something. I’m not sure.”

Robin was never more grateful for Mark’s insurance. His company had great coverage, which they’d found out when Austin had nearly taken out his knee playing football.

“Austin.” Robin looked at Emma. “Did Dad call Austin?”

Emma nodded. “Dad told him to stay put for now. He told him not to miss class. Austin is really upset; he’s been texting me.”

“I should call him. Do you know where my phone is?” Robin never went anywhere without her phone.

Emma frowned. “It’s in the lake, Mom.”

“Oh. Right.” Shit. She hated getting new phones.

“Did you back up to the cloud? You know Dad is always reminding us—”

“Yes, I’m backed up. I’ll be fine.”

She had insurance on the phone. And the car. And great health insurance. At least she didn’t have to worry about going bankrupt on top of almost drowning.

Thinking about the accident brought back a rush of memories. Val, Monica, and she had been in the car. Robin had thought they were going to die. They’d all thought they were going to die.

I wanted to kill myself. I thought about the future and there was just… nothing.

Don’t tell my kids, but I think I love you two more than anyone.

I don’t think anyone would even notice if I died.

The punch of memories made her close her eyes in shame. What had she been thinking? How could she have said that to Monica and Val? Her life was so much easier compared to both of them. She wasn’t a single parent. She wasn’t a widow.

She had good insurance and a steady business and a faithful husband and kids who were mostly fine. Did it matter if she felt invisible sometimes? Did it matter that Mark had lost interest in her?

Her husband pushed the door open, and Robin saw the lines marking his forehead. He scanned the room and his eyes immediately went to Emma.

“Emma, you’re not still crying about the scraper.” He looked as exhausted as Robin felt.

Emma burst into tears again and Mark turned to Robin.

Seriously? his eyes said.

She rolled her own. I know.

Mark walked over, brushed Robin’s hair back from her forehead, and kissed it. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”

“No.” Robin pulled the mask away from her face. “It’s fine. Take her home. Mom and Dad are going to be here pretty soon. I think I’ll be able to go home in the morning, and all I want to do is sleep.”

“I called Austin and filled him in—”

“Emma told me.”

“But I told him to stay put. He’ll probably call in the morning.”

“I’m surprised he didn’t immediately start driving home. Having your mom in the hospital has got to be an excused absence, even in college.” No one laughed at her feeble attempt at a joke.

Mark sighed. “You know, he’s getting better. He’s taking this year a lot more seriously than last. Can you cut him some slack?”

“I was just…” She shook her head. “Can we fight about this when I’m not so tired?”

“Fine.” He stepped away. “Let’s not fight about it at all, okay? I’m tired of fighting about it.”

Emma had stopped crying and was slumped in her chair, tuning out her parents like she always did when the subject of her big brother came up.

Focus, Robin.

She rearranged her pillows. “Can you guys check on Val and Monica before you leave? I can’t get anyone to tell me anything.”

“Sure. I’ll see if anyone is in the waiting room. Maybe harass them a little.” Mark swallowed hard. “I wish Gil were here.”

She nodded. “Yeah. Me too.”

“Do you want your mom to drive you back once you’re discharged?”

“Please don’t do that to me.”

“I’ll see you in the morning then.” Mark kissed her forehead again, letting his lips linger on her forehead. “Are you sure you’re okay with me leaving?”

“I promise I am.”

“Okay.”

Emma gave her an awkward side hug, but it was difficult when Robin was hooked up to monitors and IVs. She felt completely fine except that she couldn’t remember everything that happened, things were all a little muddled, and she was exhausted.

Come to think of it, that could describe most days in her life lately, so maybe she should just go home.

Mark and Emma left the room with the television tuned to HGTV at low volume, but Robin felt like she’d only closed her eyes for a minute before she opened them. Someone else was in the room. A nurse stood at the foot of her bed, perusing her chart with pursed lips.

“Hey.” Robin blinked her eyes, but she couldn’t seem to clear the sleep from them. Everything was kind of hazy and half the lights were shut off. “Did they put something in my IV to help me sleep?”