The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)(35)

“I’ll explain. Just give me a second and try to get some of that water down. Okay?”

“What if I just throw up again?”

“Trash can, darling. It’s right there. I’ll be right back.”

Simone went into the outer office and Gina was immediately on her feet. “Sit down, Gina.” Simone took the chair beside her. “Ashley is showing symptoms of depression and I think she needs medication. If she were older, I’d just get her a script, but given her age and the severity of her symptoms, I want to admit her under the care of a psychiatrist. She’s dehydrated and despondent. I gave her a bottle of water, but she’s uncertain she can keep it down. She might need an IV, which I can’t administer.”

“Depression? How bad do you think it is?”

“She’s isolating, not eating, sleeping all the time. She hasn’t bathed. She’s dirty and doesn’t care. This isn’t like her, is it?”

Gina shook her head. Her lips quivered. “That damn Downy,” she whispered.

“The reason I want to admit her, Gina—this could be an emotional reaction to a bad breakup or it could be classic depression, which usually presents between the ages of fifteen and thirty. Is there depression in your family? In the extended family?”

Gina looked down. “I’m not sure. I’ll ask my mother, but we’ve been a family of women. My dad left when I was just five. I was pregnant at fifteen, delivered Ashley at sixteen and my boyfriend...” Tears came to her eyes for the first time in so many years. “Long gone,” she said weakly.

“It does run in families sometimes. I’m not saying she’s suffering from clinical depression but it’s entirely possible. If you can check with your mother and even Ashley’s paternal biological family, it would give us more information. Meanwhile, I want to take her to city hospital in North Bend. We can take her together, check her in. She’ll be safe there.” Simone reached for Gina’s hand. “I don’t want to take any risks here. She could be a danger to herself.”

“You think she’d kill herself?” Gina asked.

“I don’t know. I worry that she might let herself die if there’s not an intervention. There’s really no point in risking this. Come with me to explain all this to Ashley. Then I should make a couple of calls.”

And Simone went back to Ashley without another word.

Gina followed. She listened numbly while Simone explained to Ashley—depression, dehydration, isolation, risk. Ashley merely nodded.

“I want you to stay at least overnight in the hospital, Ashley, so we can give you an antidepressant and monitor the way you respond. It might be for a few days, but I’m fairly sure it won’t be long-term.”

“Long-term?” Ash asked.

“Some patients are critical and really need hospitalization for a couple of weeks, maybe a month. I don’t think that’s the case, but you need medical intervention—you’re sick to your stomach, dehydrated, can’t get out of bed. Let’s take care of this.”

She nodded weakly. “No matter what you do, I’m not going back to school.”

“I understand,” Simone said.

And Gina thought, Please God, let me be as sharp as she is when I finally achieve my degree.

Tears were wetting Gina’s cheeks. She’d sacrificed everything to keep this girl healthy, safe and well-adjusted, yet one eighteen-year-old boy had just about ruined them all!

“Thanks,” she heard Simone say into her cell phone. “Yes, her mother will handle the forms and we’ll be there within the hour. I’d rather not go through admitting. Oh, thank you—we’ll meet you on the third floor.”

She disconnected and stood from her chair. “Let’s go get this difficulty taken care of.”

* * *

Mac was surprised to see an Oregon State Police Trooper vehicle pull into town. Mac had been standing outside his office, chatting with old Sam Connie about the weather when Joe Metcalf parked and got out. He was more than just another officer to Mac. He was the man his aunt Lou had been seeing for the past year and a half, though she’d done her level best to keep him secret until six months ago.

Joe gave a nod to Sam then shook Mac’s hand.

“Looks mighty official,” Sam said. “I’ll leave you to it.” And off he wandered, using a cane as leverage.

“What’s up?” Mac asked.

“I should probably ask you,” Joe responded. “Lou says the place is falling apart.”

“Not the town, thank God. Just a few people in it. But they’re all real important to me.” Then Mac held open the door to the office so they could go inside. “I guess Lou told you about Cee Jay coming to town?”

“Yeah, she’s pretty sideways about that. And now I hear Gina’s daughter is in the hospital?”

“Did she tell you about it?” Mac asked. “That sexting business?”

He nodded. “And the amount of bullying on social networks is out of control—everyone from vulnerable young teens to rich and famous stars... Too many victims. Lou said there’s some question about Ashley’s stability....”

“She’s been in the hospital for three days, but it appears she’s going to be all right. She’s a lot better in three days. Lots. She’s depressed, but not clinically depressed. I have to admit, if someone sent a na**d picture of me to all my friends, I might get a little whacked out of joint. I worry about Gina. Her only child. I wish I could get her away from all that, but I worry about leaving Lou and the kids. The second I leave the house, Cee Jay could decide on a surprise visit.”