“You sure you don't want to go with us?” Mark opened her door for her and she released Alex and climbed into the back, snuggling against the far window and letting out a yawn. “No. I'm ready to get in my pajamas and sleep for a week.”
“No days off, please.” Alex turned as he got in the front seat. “I can run the place without Mark, but not you. You're my right and left hand.”
“Hey!” Mark popped Alex playfully in the chest. “I'm right here. Shit.”
They all laughed and Mark and Alex started to talk about various horror movies as Jamie pulled out her phone and flipped through the messages. Her father said that Christine was fine, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he really didn't know how she was. He was pretty lost, too, and wasn't the best judge of character at the moment.
Alex pulled up to the house and got out of the car, opening her door and leaning over to look at Mark. “I'll be right back, man. I'm going to get her settled in.”
“Settled-in my ass,” Mark scoffed. “I know exactly what you’re up to.” He shook his head. “Rub it in, man, rub it in.”
“No, you guys are going to the movies.” She laughed as she turned move around the car and stand close to Alex. “I’m a grown-ass woman.” She leaned in so Mark wouldn’t hear. “I can take care of myself if you’re not around... if you know what I mean.”
He slammed the door and moved toward her, gripping her hips and leaning down to let his lips hover above hers as he groaned, his voice full of desire, “My grown-ass woman.” He stole a kiss. “Can I watch”?”
“Uh-huh, later... maybe. You go watch the movie. I'll be waiting naked in our bed for you.” She lifted to her toes and kissed him softly and squeezed his butt.
“Why am I going to see a movie with my annoying little brother when my hot naked wife is getting in our bed?” Alex leaned down for another long kiss.
“Get out of here before Mark starts making comments.” She popped his butt and walked toward the house. “Be careful.”
“Always. Love you.” He got in the car as she unlocked the front door.
She fed Jake and took him for a short walk around the pool and backyard. After walking around in the house a few minutes, she couldn’t shake the odd feeling pressing inside of her. Jamie grabbed her keys and gave up on trying to calm her nerves. She needed to check on her sister.
Christine wouldn't lift a finger to help her, but that didn't mean shit. Jamie was nothing like her family. She called her dad just to double check that they were there as she drove toward her mom and dad's house.
“Hi, Pumpkin. Two phone calls in one night? Is the world ending?” Her father sounded far more upbeat than she’d expected.
“I'm just worried. I know it's silly, but is Christine there? Can I just talk to her for a minute?” Jamie pressed the phone between her shoulder and cheek and continued along the road, not yet ready to turn around and leave everyone be.
“She's at home, sweetheart. Your mom and I are having dinner with some old college friends. If she's not answering her phone, then she’s probably laid down. She seemed sleepy before we left. She's got a lot going on.”
“I know. I'm just going to go check on her. I love you.”
“Me, too.”
She hung up and tried to slow her racing heart, but the closer she got to the house the worse it got. After parking on the street in front of the house, she jogged to the front door and pulled the key from atop the door frame, unlocking the house and walking in.
“Christine?” The darkness was almost eerie around the living room, though she'd grown up in the place. She turned and walked down the hall, flipping on lights as she did. “Christine? Hey... it's me. Where are you?”
The bedrooms were empty and it almost seemed like no one was there, but Christine's car was out front. Jamie rounded the entrance to the kitchen, thinking maybe that her sister was sitting out back. They'd spent a lot of time out there as kids, swinging on the porch swing that her dad and she built one summer.
She stepped into the kitchen and tripped over something, catching herself as she plowed into the kitchen counter. “What the hell?”
Christine was sprawled on her stomach across the kitchen floor.
“Oh no! No... no... no... Please no!”
Chapter 14
Jamie called her parents as she rode in the ambulance next to Christine. She'd already called Alex, freaking out once she got the EMS on the way.
“Hey, Pumpkin. What's going on now?” Her dad's voice was friendly, but had a twinge to it that told her he was over her calling for the evening. She ignored it entirely.
“Dad. I went to the house, and Christine was on the floor in the kitchen. She overdosed on some type of medication. I'm in the ambulance with her. We're headed to the hospital. They think they got it in time, but I don't know.” Jamie let out a soft sob as she tried to hold herself together.
Christine looked like death as she lay on the gurney in front of her. The EMS guys were moving about and talking rapidly to each other as her sister panted softly but wouldn't open her eyes.