Save Me

Chapter Eighty-five

Rose walked down the glistening hospital corridor, holding Melly’s hand. Amanda had come out of her coma and been moved from Intensive Care, though she’d developed motor problems in her left arm and was recovering her memory only slowly. Eileen had asked them to stop by on Sunday afternoon, and Rose was hoping it was a good idea.

“You okay, Mel?”

“Fine.” Melly held their gift under her arm. “Are you giving her the present or am I?”

“You decide. You picked it out, but I’m happy to give it to her and say that.”

“I’ll give it to her.”

“Good.” Rose squeezed her hand. “She doesn’t remember everything and she might not look very good, but she’s going to get better, very slowly. She won’t be back at school until the end of the year.”

“Does she remember putting the jelly on her cheek?”

Rose flinched. “I don’t know.”

“Who’s going to be there, visiting her? Any kids from my class? Danielle and Emily?”

“I don’t think so, but I’m not sure.”

Melly fell silent.

“You worried, Mel?”

“I’m trotting on.”

Rose burst into laughter, and Melly giggled, releasing the tension. The hallway was empty, and the air smelled vaguely antiseptic. People talked in low tones in one room, and a football game played on a TV in another. They reached Amanda’s room, where the door was propped open. Rose knocked on the jamb and peeked inside. “Any Gigots around?”

“Rose!” Eileen got up from her chair by the bed, and Amanda was awake under the covers, her head still bandaged and her face pale. She was hooked up to an IV, and her blue eyes were sleepy.

“Hi, Ms. McKenna.” Amanda’s voice sounded weak. “Hi, Melly.”

“So good to see you both.” Eileen came around the foot of the bed, looking relaxed in a sweatshirt and jeans, with light makeup and her hair in fluffy curls.

“I’m so glad Amanda is better.”

“Thanks.” Eileen nodded, her eyes shining, and she looked down at Melly. “Thanks for coming this afternoon. Amanda really wanted to see you.”

“Why?” Melly asked, and Rose tried not to laugh.

“Good question.” Eileen turned to Amanda. “Amanda, why don’t you tell Melly why you wanted to see her?”

“I’m going home in two or three weeks and we’re going to have a big Halloween party. Do you want to come?”

“Okay,” Melly answered, her tone wary. She stepped to the bed and held out the present. “We got this for you.”

“Thanks.” Amanda took the gift with her right hand, though her left arm didn’t move, apparently limp. “My arm and hand don’t work right anymore. My brain didn’t get enough oxygen, and I have to do rehab.”

Rose felt a stab of sympathy, and Eileen moved to help her, but Melly beat her to it, and the two girls began to unwrap the package with much fussing, ripping, and eventually, giggling. Behind them, Eileen and Rose exchanged relieved and happy smiles. Never before had such significance been projected onto the unwrapping of a gift, as if it could lead to world peace.

“Cool!” Amanda became animated, holding up the present, an American Girl book. “Look, Mom. It’s Lanie, my favorite!” She turned to Melly. “Who’s your favorite?”

“Harry Potter.”

Rose hid her smile.

Amanda said, “I like Harry Potter movies. Do you?”

“Yes,” Melly answered. “If you want, I can bring your homework to the hospital. But I can’t do it on Wednesdays because I’m starting my riding lessons.”

Amanda’s eyes widened. “You ride horses?”

“Yes. I ride Ebony.”

“Felicity rides horses. I love Felicity. She’s my old favorite. Lanie is only my new favorite.”

“Who’s Felicity?” Melly asked, puzzled.

“She’s an American Girl, too. She lives in Virginia. I have the DVD at home. You can come over and watch it when I get home, okay?”

“Okay,” Melly answered, cheering. “I never read American Girl but I have one of the books, too. Nicki.”

“Nicki is the one who likes dogs.”

Behind them, Eileen smiled at Rose. “Amanda knows everything about those American Girl books. She knows all the characters. She’s obsessed. You can’t imagine.”

“Uh, yes, I can.” Rose laughed, and Eileen motioned to her.

“Let’s go outside and let them talk, huh?”

“Good idea.” Rose followed her into the hallway, eavesdropping to make sure Melly was okay. The girls began to yammer about Felicity and Hermione, and Rose smiled. “Isn’t that great?”

“Great.” Eileen’s expression grew serious. “But I have to say, in person, I’m really sorry, for everything.”

“Forget it.” Rose waved her off, but Eileen held up her hand.

“No, listen. I told you on the phone that Amanda’s memory is in bad shape. It is. She doesn’t remember much, and what she does comes in dribs and drabs.”

“Okay.”

“So yesterday, we were talking about you and Melly, and, well, she remembered something.” Eileen frowned deeply, her regret plain. “She remembered that when the fire broke out, you took her out to the hallway with Emily. That you told them to go to the playground, but she went back in for Jason’s iPod, then got lost in the smoke. It wasn’t your fault, at all.” Tears brimmed in Eileen’s blue eyes. “I’m so sorry, for everything I accused you of.”

“Shh, it’s okay, don’t cry, the kids’ll hear.” Rose gave her a hug, and Eileen’s chest heaved with a sob, then a soft cry escaped her lips.

“I’m so sorry. I thought you abandoned Amanda for Melly, and that you didn’t even try.”

“Hush a minute. Listen to those kids. They’re laughing.”

Eileen settled down, her tears subsiding, and the mothers eavesdropped while the daughters yammered about Lanie missing her best friend Dakota, and Harry missing his best friend Ron, then they segued into what costume they would wear for Halloween, which, as any mother knows, is a conversation that lasts several weeks.

And by the end of the visit, the daughters had gotten to know one another better, and so had the mothers.

And as far as Rose was concerned, that was world peace.