Page 93 of A Me and Him Thing
“My…my dad did that to you?” The alarm in his voice is evident.
“Yes.” I put my blouse back together. The lantern sleeves fit easily over my cast. That’s why I chose this blouse today.
“That’s the action of a man who knows he’s doing something wrong.” Ren plops down on his chair, leaning his head back, his eyes staring at the ceiling.
“He seemed tense, upset about me catching him in the act. Looking back, I don’t think he meant to hurt me. He just didn’t realize his own strength in a worried moment.”
Ren shakes his head in the negative. “No. It doesn’t matter. It’s not okay that he did that to you. I’m so sorry. Whatever he’s doing to Allie is not okay either. I want her to be at peace as much as anyone else. But I’m not going to take matters into my own hands.”
“What would cause agitation and restless behavior? If she was dying from being poisoned, wouldn’t she be flat on her back in bed?”
Ren lets out an exhausted breath. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
Ren leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “What do you mean?”
“When I visit Allison in the late afternoon, right before dinner, she’s the calmest I’ve ever seen her.”
“Go on.” Ren sits up, his mind catching on before I utter the words.
“Think about it. Then she’s given the next dose of whatever meds your dad’s giving her with dinner. And the cycle repeats itself. It seems like too much of a coincidence.”
Ren expels his breath. “The only other time I’ve ever seen anyone act overstimulated and restless, unable to sleep, is when we were adjusting Ethan’s Adderall dosage.”
Our eyes meet, snapping to attention. My mind jumps to conclusions.
So does Ren’s. His next words prove it. “No way,” Ren whispers. “It’s just not possible. I mean, my dad loves Allie.”
“Hold on. Are you insinuating your father could be giving Allison a dose of Adderall? I thought Adderall helps people with ADHD to focus, so they’renotrestless andcanpay attention.”
“That’s true. But if someone takes it and they don’t actually need it, or if the dosage is wrong, it can cause all types of side effects. Like mood swings, hostility, aggression, insomnia, paranoia, and…psychosis.”
“All of Allison’s symptoms on her bad nights,” I state flatly.
“But why? My dad loves Allie. It’s not possible.”
“Wait. We’re getting ahead of ourselves. Don’t they check her bloodwork at Tranquility House? Wouldn’t they know if some other drug was in her system?”
“Not if a patient is under anallow natural deathdirective. They’re responsible for keeping her comfortable. That’s all.”
“Which leads us back to why? Why would your father do such a thing?”
“She’s been this way since she was allowed to come home. My father…” Ren stops abruptly.
“What?”
Ren’s skin turns a sickly shade of white. “Dad was often the one who fed her dinner. He continued feeding her dinner after she was placed in Tranquility House.”
“Oh my gosh.” His words hit me hard.
“Dad has access to Ethan’s Adderall. He gives it to him every night. And…Ethan hasn’t been doing well. As if he’s not even taking his medication.”
I think of Jack, Ren’s wonderful father. “No, we’re way off base, making huge leaps of logic. Allison has brain damage. Of course her behavior is unpredictable.”
“And yet you witnessed my father putting something in Allie’s food.”
I did. I can’t ignore what I saw. “I think we need to speak with your father. Right now. We can’t put this off.”
