Page 36 of The Austen Escape
Isabel’s face fell and paled. She took a deep breath and seemed at a loss for how to reply.
I held up a hand to stop her. “You’re right. We are here to enjoy ourselves.” I pointed to my wardrobe. “Will you please choose a dress for me? I’ll be right back.” I palmed my phone and headed into the bathroom. I locked the door behind me.
Dad answered on the second ring. “Hey, dar—”
“I’m sorry I woke you, but do you remember that spring break when Isabel’s dad didn’t come home and she stayed with us?”
I heard a scratching noise. I envisioned him rubbing his face to wake up. “How could I forget? What’s going on?”
“She’s like that again. She’s doing that pretending or dissociative thing the doctor talked about. This is beyond role play, Dad. It’s like she really believes we’re at a Regency house party.”
“What happened?” Dad’s voice was strong and clear. He was sitting up now.
“Everything was fine yesterday. She was so excited... Well,she got a little upset because her dad set up all these interviews and—” My breath caught. “He got married yesterday. Her dad married some young girlfriend and sent Isabel a horrid e-mail. It was cruel, Dad. I couldn’t believe he wrote it, but she assured me it was real.”
“She should have been taken from that man years ago.”
Dad always contended that Malcolm Dwyer wasn’t just indifferent to his daughter, his neglect was abusive. One spring break Malcolm had approved his nanny’s request for vacation but then had not returned home to Isabel. She came home from school to a locked house, broke in through a window, and we only found her three days later when I went to empty her mailbox and pick up the newspapers in the driveway. She recognized me, but neither of my parents. Dad, because he was listed as the school’s emergency and medical contact, was able to take her to the doctor. He never told me the full extent of what was said, but the result was we brought Isabel home to our house.
“What do I do now?”
“Back then, Dr. Milton said rest and safety. It took a few days, but she was fine. Does she know you?”
“It took a second, but she does.”
“That happened last time too. She recognized you almost immediately. It took her almost a day for your mom and me, then after three days she was fine.”
“Do I need to take her somewhere? A doctor? Or I wonder if we should hop a flight home. But you should see her with the horses—she’s confused, but she was happy. Before I upset her, that’s what struck me. Remember how happy she was that week? It’s like her protective coating is gone again.”
“Then she feels safe there. Don’t take her anywhere and don’tupset her. Let me call Dr. Milton and I’ll get back to you. Do what we did before—stay close and reassure her.”
“Do I need to call her father?”
“You can. He didn’t come fifteen years ago; I doubt he’ll do different now. I’d throttle that man if I could.”
Dad’s conviction soothed my fear. “Call me back?”
“Of course, Peanut. You can do this.”
I nodded as if he could see me.
“I’ll call as soon as I reach Dr. Milton. Text or call if you need me.”
“I will. Thanks, Dad.”
I tapped off the phone and exited the bathroom. Isabel stood next to my bed holding up a plum-colored dress. She was grinning.
“This one.”
Chapter 13
Isabel was Emma. Lady Bountiful at her best. And maybe I was Catherine fromNorthanger Abbeyas I’d insisted the day before—naïve and completely out of my element.
Within an hour Isabel had me dressed and my hair pulled up in a matching fashion—a high bun with tendrils framing my face. It looked better on a head full of curls rather than one with straight brown hair, but I had to admit it was soft and pretty. And some deep place within me got a kick out of the transformation.
“Are we ready?” I heard my nerves coming to the surface.
“Not yet.” She pulled a black ribbon from another dress and tucked it into my hair. “You look beautiful.”
