“It’s entertainment,” I say. “And a much-needed mental vacation. We have absolutely no problem with that. I think we can supply an ebook reader.…”
I look at Dalton, who gives a helpless shrug, and I realize he’s not even sure what that is.
“We’ll work it out,” I say.
“Good,” she says. “I understand what life is like up here, and I have spoken to Kenny at length about it.”
“Kenny…” I say.
“Yes, he’s one of the reasons I will be staying.” She hurries on, “To help his rehabilitation, of course.”
I sneak a look at Dalton. Am I imagining that color in my sister’s cheeks? Because if I’m not …
Does April have a crush on Kenny?
I’m not even sure what to do with that. I do know what to do with this situation, though. What I must do, as much as I’d love to leap at the opportunity. Because it is an opportunity, not only to get a doctor but to fulfill that little-girl dream, where my sister actually wants to be near me. It doesn’t matter if she hasn’t said a word about wanting that; this is closer than I’ve ever been to having April in my world.
“Eric?” I say. “May I…?” I motion to April.
He nods and pushes off the desk. “I’ll be out back.”
When he’s gone, I turn to my sister. “We need a doctor. You know that. I would love to have you. But this is … not what I expected. So I need to ask: is there something you aren’t telling me?”
The twitch in her posture tells me there is, and my hopes plummet. Still, I push on. “If there’s a reason you want to be here, something you have to escape for a while, then we can talk about that. But we need to know. You saw what we just dealt with, having a federal marshal show up. We cannot be blindsided.”
“You need a doctor, Casey, and I am offering to be that. I don’t believe I require a reason.”
“Actually, yes, you do. I’m sorry, April. While I don’t know you nearly as well as I’d like, I still know Rockton is not your idea of paradise. It wasn’t mine. I came here for Diana, and yes, I love it now, but there are very, very few people who’d hear about a place like this and say ‘sign me up.’ You aren’t one of those. You want to stay for a reason.”
She glowers at me, and I’m ready for her argument. One that will make me feel like a bratty child for questioning my sister’s motives. I stand firm, and she meets my gaze, and there is a silence that seems to stretch forever.
Then she says, “I need a break.”
“Okay.”
She wants to leave it at that. When she can tell I’m not going to let her, she marches across the room.
She stands in front of the fireplace with her back to me. More silence. I don’t break it. I can’t.
“I love my work,” she says.
“I know.”
“It is not easy work. I appreciate a challenge. I have, in the past few years…” She takes a deep breath. “I pushed myself harder than I should have. After you left…”
She spins on her heel. “You left, Casey. With a ten-second phone call, you left.”
“I told you I was going. It wouldn’t have been a ten-second call if you hadn’t made it clear I was interrupting—”
“I was distracted. I wasn’t paying attention. I thought you were…” She flutters her hands. “Being you. Diana has a crisis. Poor Diana. Must run and save Diana. Forget your family. Forget your sister. Diana needs you.”
I step toward her, but she backs up, stiffening. I lower my voice. “You never needed me, April. If you had, I’d have been there—”
“You weren’t there.”
“Since Mom and Dad died, you have made it very clear you wanted nothing to do with me.”
“I still knew you were there, if I ever needed you. And then you weren’t. First, Mom and Dad, and then you…” She sucks in a breath. “I pushed myself too hard at work. I had an episode. I needed a rest.”