The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)(36)

Joe tilted his head and smiled slyly. “I might be able to help out with this situation,” he said.

* * *

Gina went to visit Ashley in the hospital. Many of the patients in her ward at the hospital were being evaluated for long-term care. Some were there by court order and some were either drugged and hazy and others looked, on the surface at least, like perfectly normal young people between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five, their issues secret from Gina. Not all of them were allowed visitors.

Ashley embraced Gina. “I’m better,” she said. “I really am.”

“How do you know?” Gina asked.

“I’ve talked about it a lot—the whole thing, from breaking up to the mean sexting. Did you know that’s what it’s called and it happens a lot? I can’t think of one time that’s happened at my school. I mean, there were mean rumor things, but nothing like this.”

“I guess I didn’t think it ever would,” Gina said. She looked around. “There seem to be just a few young people here. Lots of older people.”

“All ages,” Ashley said. “There are a couple of old people who hurt themselves by accident and they’re going to go to a home where they’ll be safe and cared for—they’re sometimes completely normal and sometimes in some time warp.” And she smiled.

“Do you feel safe here, Ash?” Gina asked.

She nodded. “The only thing I don’t like is that they lock the ward doors at night—that bothers me a lot. Like what if I need to get out for some reason, like a fire or something? But there’s a button to push—a bell and a light. Besides that, I feel okay.”

A young girl in a hospital gown over scrubs walked past them and lifted a hand to Ashley. Her wrists were bandaged. Ashley looked at Gina. “That is what you think it is. Not the first try, either. Look, I know I was pretty bad, but no matter how bad I looked, I wasn’t that bad. I wanted to disappear, I didn’t want to do anything to myself.”

“Oh, Ash,” she said, hugging her again. “What turned you around? You’re so much more like yourself!”

“Seeing how far down the hill you can roll, for one thing. But the nurse in charge keeps reminding me that sometimes what a person needs most is medicine. I had an IV for a whole day—that made me feel a lot better. And this medicine? It’s not supposed to really kick in for a few weeks, so I doubt it’s really the medicine, but if Simone insists I try it, I guess I will. Do you think it’s normal that I still want to kill Downy?”

Gina couldn’t help but smile. In fact, she liked the sound of that so much better than “I just don’t want to live.” But she did know Ashley would never hurt anyone. She was kind to the core of her being.

“Is Gram okay?” Ashley asked. “She’s not all worked up about this, is she?”

“She was very worried. She’s relieved you’re under a doctor’s care. When I tell her how great you look and sound, she’ll be more relieved.”

“Doctor, phhhhttt. I saw the doctor for three minutes. The nurse is running this show. Her name is Judy. She has zero patience, but I can see where some of the patients would push her around if she gave them an inch. I stay out of her way. She doesn’t like anyone. I told Simone she was mean as a snake and hated everyone and Simone smiled so big I thought her ears would fall off. Think that means Simone isn’t crazy about the nurse?”

Gina felt her eyes well with tears and she squeezed Ashley’s hands.

“What’s the matter, Mom? Why are you crying?”

She just shook her head. “I was afraid you’d never be a smart-ass again, never make me laugh again....”

“Have you talked to Simone today?”

“Not today. Why?” Gina answered.

“She asked if I’d stay three more days. She said it’s up to me. I said I didn’t want to and she said I’ve gotten so much better in just a couple of days, she’d really like me to stay a little longer. I said okay. But not any more than that.”

“I’ll pick you up the first second you can leave,” Gina said. “You sure about this decision?”

She nodded.

“And when I bring you home, you’re going back to school?”

“I guess,” she said with a shrug. “I can’t exactly quit school. It’ll be awful, though.”

“Maybe not, Ash. You have good friends there.”

“I also have some jerks there.”

“As it is in the world,” Gina said. “Good people and jerks and millions you haven’t met yet. I’m so relieved you’re stronger.”

“I’m sorry I scared you,” she said. “I’m sorry I gave up and hit the bottom.”

“I’m just so glad we found the right support,” Gina said. “Because I love you so much. You’re my life, you know.”

* * *

Mac had convinced Gina they had earned a night away from Thunder Point and with Ashley in safe hands, they should take their chance. Once Ashley came home, he knew Gina would want to be on hand. But, with Carrie’s approval, they packed overnight bags and left town around two that afternoon.

“Exactly where are we going?” Gina asked Mac. “I really don’t like being away from my phone. Just in case Ashley needs me. She was fine yesterday. In fact, she was better than she’s been in a month, but you know...”