Page 41 of The Austen Escape
I watched through the mirror as Isabel rolled another piece of wire around her finger, unrolled it, and rolled it again.
“It’s electrical wire.” I paused to gauge her reaction. I wasn’t sure about the rules... Was I to gently remind her of the present? Avoid it at all costs?
Fascinated, she continued to twist the wire. I continued. “My dad used to bring me home spare clippings from jobs. Everything in our house, growing up, revolved around electricity.” I paused again. She said nothing. “You’d like my dad. He gave me this too.” I lifted my necklace in another gentle reminder of who we were and what we knew about each other. I almost expected the usual litany. Of course, Mary.Ambermeans “electron” in ancient Greek. It’s all about electricity.
Instead she turned it over in her fingers, inspecting every detail. “What’s on the back?”
I resisted the urge to pull it away. We never talked about the back, and most days I forgot about it. “Dad soldered my mom’s Saint Cecilia medallion to the frame. She is the patron saint of music.”
I hadn’t wanted my dad to solder that to the stone. He did it right after my mom died, and rather than a blessing, it felt like an indictment. It reminded me of my push-pull relationship with the piano, which mirrored my relationship with my mom. A never-ending cycle of yearning-delight-fear-distance. How could you love something, invest in it, as you saw it slipping away?
Inches away I could see Isabel’s focus cloud. “I don’t remember my mother.”
I wasn’t sure if this was real or pretend. Emma didn’t remember her mother either. “I know.”
Isabel let the necklace drop. The gold medallion against myskin was now warm from her fingers. Her hand fluttered at her neck. She looked around the room as if searching for something safe and familiar.
“Let’s go for a walk.” My own brightness surprised me.
Her face cleared. “I need to get my boots. Can we go back down to the stables? Grant mentioned another horse that should be back by now. He’s bigger than Tennyson. He was pulling that Mrs. Jennings and Sir Walter around in a gig all morning.”
Isabel sank to the desk chair and pulled on the brown leather boots she’d worn riding. I heard a snap and a sigh as I did the same from across the room.
“I broke the lace and I don’t have another.” She crossed toward the bell pull—again. Clearly she didn’t remember our conversation.
“Don’t. That’s more work for Sonia. She’ll have to come up here, then go back down to find a shoelace. I’ll go find her.”
Isabel stood. “But you are less ready than I am. I will find her and meet you in the drawing room.”
“That’s the Day Room, right?”
“Yes, isn’t that odd? Day Room. That’s what Gertrude called it this morning.” Isabel left the room.
I dropped to the bed and tapped my phone. There was a text from Dad.
Dr. Milton will call you soon. He agrees with keeping her there. He wants to talk with a few colleagues as to timing and next steps. More soon.
I was on my own.
Chapter 15
Fifteen years ago, I had simply watched movies and sat beside Isabel. I knew something was wrong, that was obvious. But I also trusted my parents, and they assured me she needed rest and comfort and she’d be fine.
I hadn’t been in charge. I hadn’t been responsible. I’d simply watched fun movies and eaten macaroni and cheese and pizza for three days straight.
Now... I sat up, swiped at my eyes, and reached for my other boot. It was time for a walk. Sunshine. Fresh air. Peace. One step at a time.
A phone rang. I grabbed for mine, but it wasn’t ringing. I reached across to Isabel’s bed and tapped accept before I glanced at the screen.
TCG. “Oh... Oops.” I almost tapped it off, then realized I’d said the words aloud. I recovered with a quick “Isabel Dwyer’s phone.”
“Isabel?” an oddly familiar voice replied. “Is Isabel there?”
“She isn’t right now. May I have her call you back?” As soon as I said the words, my heart dropped and I shot to standing. I recognized that voice. “Nathan?”
“Who is this?”
“Mary Davies. From WATT.”
