Ginny
2002, Fort Lauderdale
“Thank you for coming,” Stan said as he pulled me into a hug.
Stan was a handsome man, always well-groomed and manicured. But today he looked absolutely horrible. It was obvious he hadn’t bathed or slept in days. I released myself from his embrace and looked into his bloodshot eyes.
“What’s going on?”
He led me into a private waiting room and shut the door behind us. He motioned for me to take a seat, and he took the one across from me. It was obvious Stan had connections and clout, because even though I’d never visited a hospital that specialized in psychiatric care, I knew this wasn’t the norm. This room had tasteful and expensive furnishings that rivaled a multimillion-dollar penthouse on the beach.
“I’ll tell you what I know or at least what I think I know,” he told me, his voice shaky.
I nodded.
“Back when you and Tommy were having problems, I think it was right around the time you moved back home after staying with Carter, Sarah Jo started harping on me about moving away from Fort Lauderdale. And not just away from Fort Lauderdale, but out of the country. I was surprised because I’d had some fantastic offers from outside of the states, and she always turned her nose up at them, insisting she would never leave here.”
I stiffened at the mention of my brief separation from Tommy, but didn’t interrupt him.
“It was so unlike her, Ginny. Fort Lauderdale has always been Sarah Jo’s home, and her insistence felt almost surreal. But, I love her and would do anything for her, so I agreed to start the ball rolling.”
I reached for his hand and held it in my own. It was cold and clammy.
“I thought we were closing in on a decision about where to move when Tommy was shot. Then she told me you couldn’t bear for her to leave...I’m not blaming you, Ginny.” He scrubbed his face with his hand.
“It’s okay, Stan, I know you’re not blaming me for anything. Go on.”
He looked at me with red-rimmed eyes and swallowed. “It was just strange, Ginny. Suddenly, she backed off the move so quickly, the move she’d been adamant about, but I understood because she said she wanted to be there for you. But she wasn’t there for you, was she?”
I bit my lip, carefully considering my reply. I didn’t know where this was going.
“I noticed we’d drifted apart too, Stan. She was there for the funeral, but you’re right. I didn’t see much of her before that or afterward. We had an occasional lunch, but it wasn’t the same. It was like we were strangers playing the roles of two people who were supposed to be friends. The conversation was almost scripted. We asked all the right things about our kids and our lives, but it didn’t feel right. I’ve wondered about it myself.”
He took his hand from mine then and leaned back in his chair, running it through his short hair.
“It started to get worse after Christmas.”
“How?” My curiosity and concern rose.
“I’ve thought long and hard on this, Ginny. She’s been here almost two weeks, and because they don’t see any improvement, I’m going out on a limb here. I’m desperate and grasping at straws. Either you’ll be the best thing for her or the worst. I honestly don’t know, but I’m at the end of my rope.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Can I just show you?”
I silently followed Stan down a long corridor. He nodded at a woman at the nurses’ station who stood and followed us to a room. There was a door with a tiny clear window. As the nurse was unlocking it for us, I stood on my tiptoes and could see Jo sitting in a comfortable and plush chair. She was clutching a stuffed animal and staring at something not in my line of vision.
I followed Stan in and heard the nurse quietly leave, closing the door behind her.
“Darling, I brought someone who wants to see you. Sarah Jo, Ginny is here.”
Sarah Jo slowly looked over at Stan and then me. She smiled, then caught herself. Her smile was instantly replaced with something else. Was it fear? No. It wasn’t fear. It almost looked like relief.
She jumped up and ran to me, hugging me so tightly I almost couldn’t breathe.
“You won’t let him hurt me, will you? You’ll protect me, won’t you Ginny? You’re my best friend, and I know you’ll forgive me for everything I’ve done to hurt you. Won’t you? Tell me you’ll protect me from him. Please, please tell me that, Ginny. Please.”
Stan gently unlocked Jo’s grip from around my body as I looked at him while answering her. What was going on? Was Stan abusing her or something?
“Stan would never hurt you, Jo. Stan loves you. I don’t need to protect you from your husband. You’re safe, Sarah Jo.”
I almost gasped at her reply.
“Not Stan. I know Stan would never hurt me. It’s Grizz! Grizz wants to kill me, Ginny! He’s alive, and he’s coming after me for all the bad things I did to you and him and Tommy.”