Page 71 of Night Falls on Predicament Avenue
Bethany shot Effie a rather hesitant look. “Mr. Anderson, I believe.”
Effie gave a small nod.
The doctor, with his fingers to his forehead in salute, retreated from the room.
Bethany hurried forward. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t sure if you wished for Mr. Anderson to be apprised of your condition or if you preferred we wait for your father.”
Effie offered a wordless smile.
Bethany chewed her bottom lip, making it rosier than it already was. “Effie, are you ... becoming fond of Mr. Anderson?”
Effie struggled to speak, to reassure Bethany.
Bethany shook her head. “Forgive me. I only wish the best for you. And if Mr. Anderson is the best, it is not for me to say. Only that we will continue to pray that God protects you. Something terrible seems to be following you, and ... and I worry for you, Effie.” Bethany moved toward the door. “I’ll go see if your parents have arrived yet. And I’ll see to Mr. Anderson and to Patrick—Mr. Charlemagne.”
Effie noticed Bethany’s stumble over Patrick’s name and the quick blush that came and went. Bethany swept from the room in a fluster. Effie closed her eyes. There were too many questions in her mind and in her heart. Too many unknowns. The biggest one, which made absolutely no sense to her, was that she wished Anderson would return to be near her. When he was near, she felt safe. When he wasn’t, she simply didn’t know whom she could trust.
Through their growing-up years, Effie and Polly had shared many nights together. As they entered young womanhood, however, that all stopped. Yet their parents had not seen fit to argue last night.
Polly’s eyes opened, and the sisters soaked in the vulnerability of the moment. At last, Polly whispered, “Are you all right, Effie.” Her eyes gleamed with tears.
Effie’s voice was hoarse. “I tried to be brave like you.”
Polly’s laugh was weak but still touched with a mischievous note. “Oh, Effie. I’m not brave. I’m merely ... adventurous.”
Effie reached out and pushed a lock of Polly’s hair behind her ear. “That’s why I love you so.”
Polly pursed her lips, which had lost their pink tint of health. “Who hurt you, Effie?”
“I don’t know.” Effie shook her head, her cheek rubbing the pillowcase as she lay on her side. “It was a woman, though.”
“A woman?” Polly raised her voice, and Effie shushed her so she wouldn’t draw their mother’s attention. Effie wanted to prolong this time alone with Polly. How many more moments would they have together? Like this, snuggling, as if they were little girls sharing their secrets and dreams. “The woman should be imprisoned forever.”
“Polly!” Effie exclaimed in a hushed whisper.
“Well, she should. You can’t see the bruises on your neck. It’s obvious we have a nefarious couple at large.” Polly’s outrage mounted even in her weakness, and Effie saw a spark of life in her sister’s eyes. Always. Polly always wanted to solve mysteries, to sneak around in the dead of night, to be daring. Yet here they were. Polly confined to her bed, and Effie, who’d always wanted nothing more than to be a wife and a mother, now traipsing through the woods to creepy houses like 322 Predicament Avenue and getting attacked not once, buttwice!
“A couple?” Polly’s words finally made their way into Effie’s thoughts. “What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Polly whispered. She paused to catch her breath and for a few seconds wheezed as she tried to breathe. Then, “Charles told me yesterday that a man was in my room—and now a woman has taken it upon herself to literally try to squeeze the life out of you?”
Effie hadn’t put the two together, and yet now it made sense. She pondered for a moment and then offered her own suspicions. “I followed Floyd Opperman to Predicament Avenue.” She regaled Polly with her short and cryptic conversation with Floyd that led her to follow him. She told Polly of the stains on his clothing.
Polly took in the story, not interrupting, especially as Effie struggled as her voice grew sore. When she was finished, Polly didn’t say anything. Instead, she reached for Effie’s hand beneath the covers, squeezing it. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Sorry?” Effie countered.
Polly’s face fell with a weight Effie had never seen. She waited for Polly to explain. “You wouldn’t be in this position if I had not instigated it.” A tear slipped down Polly’s cheek. “I didn’t intend this. Not this.”
Effie reached out to dab the tears on Polly’s face with the bedsheet. “You couldn’t have known. Neither of us could have known.”
Polly smiled sadly. “No. But God saved us from my foolishness anyway. Life isn’t a game anymore, Effie.” Her eyes became downcast, and yet there was a small bit of hope in them. “Life is so precious. So beautiful. It is a gift. I want you to live it, sweet Effie. I want you to live it not for me, but for all that God will do for you. All He has planned for you.”
Effie’s throat ached now for the tears that were stuck there. “I don’t want to live without you.”
Polly’s chin quivered even as she smiled weakly. “You won’t. I’ll always be a part of you. And as you live your adventure of life here, I will continue mine in eternity.”
“You truly believe that?” Effie whispered.
