Page 98 of Absorbed

Stacey looked into Melissa’s blotchy red face. The thought of discussing everything that had just happened made her afraid she would vomit again. She slid her legs out in front of her, and put her arms around Melissa. They sobbed into one another’s necks.

As they caught their breath and Melissa pulled away, she noticed the tests on the ground.

“What’s—?” Melissa’s voice caught as she picked one of the tests up. And another. “Stacey?” She searched Stacey’s face for an explanation.

Chapter Twenty-Four

He’s stable, but unconscious,” Bob told Stacey when she picked up her home phone Sunday morning. “He’s broken some vertebrae in his neck, and the ICU doctors aren’t sure yet if he’s paralyzed, or how extensive the damage might be.”

“Can we see him?” Stacey asked, wondering whether visitors were allowed on Sunday morning.

“He’s only allowed to have family visiting as long as he’s in the ICU.”

Stacey wondered whether Jessie’s dad was there. Or his little brother. She knew his mom wouldn’t be, and probably had no idea about his accident. Did he have any other family? Or was Jessie all alone?

Bob cleared his throat. “We’ve decided to keep the pool closed through at least the end of the week. The city wants each of us to come in tomorrow for interviews. They’re investigating the drowning. And Jessie’s accident.”

Stacey shivered. She pulled her knees up under her on the couch. “What do they need to know?”

Bob’s voice was uneasy. “They mostly want to make sure everything was done the way it should be. If…any of it could have been avoided.”

Her stomach jumped to her throat. “What happens if they decide it was someone’s fault?”

“You don’t need to worry about that, Stacey. You weren’t in charge, and you did everything you could to help with both rescues,” Bob said. There was something in his tone, though, that made Stacey afraid he wasn’t confident all of them would come out of this unscathed.

If they decide my being irresponsible led to Jessie’s accident, will I have to report it on every future job application? Will I have to include that in college applications?Stacey felt sharp pain behind her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

Stacey’s mom was seated across from her on the couch and mouthed “What’s up?” Stacey eyed her nervously, then shooed her off.

“What time do I need to be there?” Stacey asked, chewing on her thumbnail.

“I’m meeting with them at ten. Melissa is at noon. Your interview is at two, then Mark at four. I think they’ll schedule the others later this week, since they weren’t working when…” Bob’s voice trailed off. “The recreation director asked me to have you write down as many details as you can remember. Do it today, while everything is still clear in your mind, and bring it with you. You need to know that your official statement will be a matter of public record. That means journalists, lawyers—anyone interested—has access to it.”

Stacey clamped her lips shut until the call ended, then dropped the phone and ran to the bathroom. She threw up the toast and orange juice she’d managed to choke down for breakfast.

“Honey,” her mom called from the doorway. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“No,” Stacey coughed out. “I’m okay.” She changed her pad, flushed the toilet, then washed her hands and splashed water on her face.

The drowned man’s purple face and vacant eyes stared back at her every time she closed her eyes. The gashes on Jessie’s forehead and nose. All the blood. All night long those visions haunted her. Now she had to write it down, relive it all again, and tell it in detail to some investigator the next day.

Her mom and Murphy were waiting when she returned to the couch. Stacey curled into the fetal position, her body around Murphy’s. She rested her head on her mom’s knee.

“What did Bob say?” her mom asked.

“Jessie’s still unconscious, probably paralyzed,” Stacey said, looking up into her mom’s eyes. “I have to give a statement about everything that happened yesterday.”

“I’m sorry, Bug. I can understand how hard that will be. But I’m not surprised.” Her mom ran her fingers through Stacey’s hair. “They need to cover their bases in case there’s a lawsuit.”

“I was supposed to be in the tower when the man drowned. What if they say it was all my fault?”

“No one will say that, Stacey. It could have happened to anyone at any time.”

“But…he…Jessie was distracted. We both were.” Tears rimmed Stacey’s eyes. “What if that’s why…?”

Her mom gripped Stacey’s shoulder. “Jessie’s accident was not your fault! And the city doesn’t need to know about any of what was going on between the two of you,” she said firmly, then loosened her grip. “It’s none of their damn business. Just tell them you had diarrhea or something, and that’s why you offered to go to the pharmacy. Why you were in the bathroom. And why Jessie covered for you.”

Stacey nodded, then curled her head into Murphy’s ribs.

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