She will never be able to do some of the thing’s others do, but with her willpower, I believe she will walk once again. Denise loves Blue Strada, another innocent taken by his sweet words and handsome face. So, I thought, why not kill two birds with one stone? I will have the opportunity to meet the manwhore that he is, and hopefully, going by what I know of his tastes in women, he will take a shining to me which will fuel the revenge I have planned for lover boy.
“It’s fine.” I come back to the present with Lee Ann’s words.
“Taffy will be coming over, something about wanting a movie night.” Lee Ann groans. In fact, I asked Taffy if she would consider coming over to be with Lee Ann while I went to meet the band with Denise. Taffy is a great friend, a little crazy, but great. She’s just as worried about my little sister as I am.
“Can’t she come some other night? I really don’t feel like a movie night.”
“We both know that you need interaction, sweetie. You need to fight it. Every day will get a little easier, and soon you will want to do things.” She doesn’t answer as we continue our walk. “Oh, but be warned, Taffy said she’s going to be making dinner.” I see her grimace, but she doesn’t respond, something that the old Lee Ann would never have done. She always had an opinion about everything.
“Thank you.” My body stills at her whispered words.
“For what, sweetie?”
“For putting up with me for all this time.” My throat feels like I have a tennis ball lodged in it. Placing my hand on her arm, I tug gently, bringing her towards me as I stop.
“I love you; you are the most important person in my life. We’re sisters, that means that we’re here for each other, no matter what.” I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. A tear escapes, but I squeeze my eyes tight until the urge to cry diminishes. Slowly letting go, I step back and turn to continue our walk as I slip my arm through hers.
“I just wish we could go somewhere for a long weekend, but hopefully as soon as I know that Denise can be a few days without me, I will make plans and we can go away. Would you like that?” I don’t have money to go anywhere, but if it’s something that will help Lee Ann get better, I will figure out a way to get the money so I can take her away for a long weekend.
“Yes.” I smile, but my heart breaks. Before, she would already be making plans, instead of just going through the motions to please me. We have gone around the block. Turning onto our street, we walk the rest of the way in silence. Soon I will be leaving for work, and my heart will be in my throat until I see my sister again. Since she attempted suicide, I live in fear that she might try it again.
A half an hour later, I’m driving towards Denise’s foster parents’ home, I have never been one to hold a grudge, or hate anyone, but I believe that when someone is as uncaring and cold as Blue Strada, then someone has to make him pay. Fifteen minute later, I’m entering Denise’s room to find her looking out of the window. “Is someone ready for tonight?” Denise glances over her shoulder at me, a bright smile on her face.
“I could hardly sleep. Can you believe it?” She turns the wheelchair around to face me, and I see that she’s already dressed and ready for the day.
“I’m pleased you’re so happy,” I say as I drop my haversack on the floor near the door.
“Happy?” Denise questions. “I’m not happy, I’m ecstatic. You, Siena, are the best person I have ever met.” She holds out her hand to me. Approaching, I take her hand and smile. “I can’t believe I’m going to meet Blue. Do you think he will talk to me?”
“I’m sure he will, sweetie. After all, you are the guest of honour.” She brings my hand up to her lips and kisses it, which has my stomach knotting when I think of what my motives are for tonight. I’m pleased that this whole debacle brings pleasure to someone, even though I wish Denise didn’t have to be a part of it. But how could I possibly not want to give her this when I know that she loves his music?
Since finding out that I was the winner of the Dreamcatcher Competition, I have changed my mind a hundred times about meeting the man that nearly killed my sister, but then I see Lee Ann and the anger comes back again. Now it’s too late. There is no way that I would disappoint Denise by pulling out of this evening. “Are you ready to get your exercises out of the way, so you have time to get ready?” At my question, she claps and nods. If anything, this evening has motivated Denise to work harder than she already did. She has progressed more than I could have wished for.
We start with her daily exercises, working her muscles, strengthening their resistance. I’m a nurse, someone that helps others. I strive to see people flourish and live a healthy life, but knowing that someone is out there wounding others with their selfishness with no afterthought, saddens me.
After the daily exercises, I help Denise shower. Her smile is contagious as she chats.
A couple of hours later, I’m driving the two of us to the show. I have been sent a name and instructions on where to go and who to ask for. My stomach is in knots and I swear if I eat anything, I will be sick. I have never done anything like this before—I’ve never in my life been sneaky or vengeful, but I guess that life teaches us that sometimes there are situations where it is required.
“Are you okay?” Denise must have said something, and I didn’t hear her. My thoughts are in a jumble, thinking about all the different outcomes.
“Of course, sweetie,” I reply with a smile as I push the wheelchair towards the back entrance. I’m thankful that we’re going in through the back. Trying to manoeuvre around fans with the wheelchair would have been difficult. “I’m just trying to get us to the right place on time.”
Denise seems to accept my reply because she nods.
Pulling a wisp of hair away from my face that must have escaped my bun, I sigh. The plan at first was to attack him verbally in front of all the journalists, but then I thought of the embarrassment to Denise, and the fact that the media might go looking for Lee Ann, something that I can’t afford to happen. So, I changed my plan and instead I’m going to try to get Blue’s attention, hopefully working his lust. I’m sure a man like that has no heart. When the time is right, I will confront him, and I will tell him exactly what I think of him.
“Name?” a burly man asks at the door.
“Siena Jacobs. We’re here to see Mr. Jim Andrews.” The man looks down at a clipboard, his eyes roving down the list. When he finds my name, he opens the door for us to enter, pointing down the corridor.
“Ashley, I think this is who you were waiting for.”
A woman dressed in a tight black T-shirt and jeans hurries toward us from where she was talking to a man holding a guitar. “Oh, I’m so glad you are here,” she says, sounding flustered. “I’m Ashley, I will be taking you to the waiting room before you meet the band. You will be able to watch the concert from there.” She smiles at us, but it’s clear that she has other things on her mind because she looks down at her beeping phone and sighs. “Please follow me.” She starts walking down a long corridor. There are people rushing around getting ready for the concert as we’re making our way towards the waiting room.
Ten minutes later, Ashley is closing the door behind herself, after showing us to where we’re supposed to wait. There is a wide balcony facing the stage, we’re on the first floor and below us are fans excitedly chatting while they wait for the concert to begin. “I have never been to something like this, have you?” Denise asks as she wheels her wheelchair towards the edge of the balcony to look down.
“No, this is my first one, too.” Growing up, mom never had money for frivolities, and when she died, I had just finished my nursing degree and started working. Lee Ann had a part-time job and contributed, but since her depression, it has fallen on my shoulders to pay for everything.