Tailspin(80)

I get to be at home for four nights, or maybe five. Mom said she wants Dr. O’Neal to be the one to say when I should go back. Dr. O’Neal wasn’t there when I got sent home.

Here’s what happened. I was taking a nap. I woke up when people came in my room. One was a man who is a senator. His wife’s name was Mrs. Hunt. She had red lipstick and blond hair. They talked to me in soft voices, and smiled the whole time, and she said I was adorable. He patted my shoulder and told me I deserved a medal for being so brave.

Does he think I’m a soldier? He must be really dumb.

When I whispered that to Mom, she shushed me and said she would explain later, but she never got to, because the senator’s wife wouldn’t stop talking except when she had her picture taken. She asked me if I was excited about being on TV. I said, “Yes, ma’am,” because Mom was looking at me with her “Use your manners” face. Mrs. Hunt told me to wave to the cameras, so I did, because I didn’t want to make her mad. She acted like the boss of everybody.

There was a couch on the airplane for me to lay on. I didn’t throw up. The lady in the dark blue dress brought me a ginger ale. I didn’t drink all of it. She kept asking me if I wanted something else, but I didn’t.

When we got off the plane, more people were there to take pictures. We rode home in a long white car like when we drove to the airplane. Two policemen went ahead of us on motorcycles.

Lots of people were in our yard. They were taking pictures, too. I was too tired to wave this time. I only wanted to see my dad. He ran out the front door and down the steps and hugged me. He had to pick up Cy and hold him because he was barking at the TV people.

My room has lots of balloons in it. My brother popped one. Daddy told him to settle down.

The doctor—not Dr. O’Neal, my first doctor—came in and checked me over. A nurse is spending the night in our house.

Everybody left my room except Daddy. He sat on the bed. He asked me about the airplane ride. I told him about the couch and the ginger ale. He rubbed my head and told me he could feel hair growing back, but I know there’s none there. I smiled anyway.

He leaned down and kissed my cheek, then wished me good night and told me to rest because tomorrow was going to be a big day. He left before I could see that he was about to cry. He thinks I don’t know that he cries sometimes, but I do. Kids are a whole lot smarter than grown-ups think.

I can hear my brothers in their room. They’re fussing over a video game. Mom and the nurse and now Daddy, too, are having cake and coffee in the kitchen. They moved Cy’s bed to my room. He’s asleep in it. Since I got sick, he’s the only one who has stayed normal and doesn’t treat me different.

Daddy told me I was in for a big surprise tomorrow. I think it’s that Dr. O’Neal will be here when I wake up. I wonder if the senator and his wife got her permission to send me home. If they didn’t, she’s going to be mad, because, more than anything, she wants me to get well.

I sure hope I do. If I die, she’s going to be so disappointed.





Chapter 24

10:22 p.m.



When Rye was saluted, he fell back a step as though he’d been struck. “Cut that shit out.”

Jake Morton smiled amicably. “Okay. But climb in. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”

“Thanks all the same,” Rye said, “but I won’t be responsible for getting you into trouble.”

“I’m not leaving you, Mallett. Non-negotiable.” Jake glanced beyond them toward the bar. “That cop won’t be peeing forever.”

Relenting, Rye gave Brynn a nod. They all got into the car, Brynn and Rye in back. Jake wasted no time putting several blocks’ distance between them and the bar, then asked where they wanted to go.

Rye said, “Just take us over to the airport. Drop us outside baggage claim. Somewhere near the taxi line.”

Jake said, “Seriously, name the place. I’ll take you.”

“Can’t do it,” Rye said. “Someone might have seen you leave with us. If you’re asked later, you can honestly say you left us at the airport. After that, you don’t know.”

“Is this business with the police that serious?”

“No. But her patient is.”

Jake looked at Brynn in the rearview mirror. She said, “I can’t discuss it, but it really is a life-or-death matter.”

Jake gave a solemn nod. “Airport it is.”

“You fly?” Rye asked.

“Oh, yeah. I have a Bonanza.”

“Sweet.”

“Mine’s older, but refurbished. Put in a new engine two years ago. I was off today. Hadn’t been for the fog, I would’ve taken her for a spin.”

“What’s your day job?”

He laughed. “Flying.” He named the freight carrier he flew for.

Brynn and Rye looked at each other. He raised his eyebrows as though asking her if Jake was their man. She was about to nod yes when Jake said, “I fly at zero zero thirty. Quick round trip to KC. Back by breakfast.”

Which meant that he wasn’t available tonight, and Brynn realized she was disappointed. She liked Jake Morton. She got a sense that Rye did, too.

He asked, “How did you know me? Have we crossed paths?”

“I was in Afghanistan same time you were.”