“Maybe he was confused.” His voice was filled with disbelief.
When I didn’t say anything right away, he glanced up at me. I knew he wanted me to agree. It was just too horrible to consider anything else.
Cautiously, I nodded. “He definitely could be. He looked terrible.” Not at all like the guy we’d just gone paintballing with. He always had a ready smile, a wisecrack for everything.
Not today. This morning, his warm skin was sallow, almost ashy. His lips were dry and cracked, making the word they’d formed seem extra shocking.
Eddie was rubbing his palm repeatedly over the back of his neck, eyes downcast toward the floor. “Maybe when he saw you, he thought of Sadie… you know, because you look similar. Because for months, we thought you were her.”
“Maybe,” I echoed.
Eddie glanced up. My heart squeezed because I knew he was in pain and also denial about what was going on.
“It’s going to be okay.” I assured him, closing the distance between us to hug him close. “Robbie is strong,”
“I should call his parents again,” Eddie murmured, pulling back.
We needed more details. What happened to him?
Mary Beth turned the corner, carrying a chart. I rushed forward, nearly colliding with her. “What happened to Robbie?” I asked. “What kind of injuries does he have?”
The nurse glanced around as though she were making sure she wasn’t divulging any information in front of people who would slap her wrists for it. “He has multiple stab wounds, as I said. The deepest wound is in his side. He—ah, lost a lot of blood.”
I gasped, staggering back. How horrible!
Eddie stepped up, his front connecting with my back. He was a wall of strength for me, even when he himself was upset. “Do they know what kind of weapon?”
Mary Beth didn’t seem to think that was an odd question, which made my stomach twist. I didn’t want to think about all the different objects someone could stab another human being with.
“It was a large kitchen knife,” she confirmed. “I’m not exactly sure which kind. I think the blade was serrated, though. The blade did some damage when it went in and then was pulled out.”
I sucked in a breath. Eddie put his arm around my middle.
“Did he say anything when he was brought in? Did he say who did this to him?” he demanded, his voice harsh.
“Not that I’ve heard. He was unconscious for a while. The police won’t be talking to him until after his surgery and the anesthetics wear off.” I watched Mary Beth tuck the chart under her arm, then dab at her eyes.
She noted me watching her and spoke. “We grew up together. All of us, you know? Who would do something like this? Why?”
I went forward and hugged her. I was new to hugging people. I usually only hugged Eddie and sometimes Maggie.
Mary Beth hugged me back, though. She must not have thought it was awkward.
“Keep us updated, okay?” I whispered when I pulled away. “We’ll be waiting.”
“Of course.” She nodded, sniffling a little.
She went off to do her work. Eddie and I went silently into the empty waiting room.
“I hate hospitals,” he muttered, slumping into a chair. Almost immediately, he got back up and started to pace.
“I should call Maggie,” I said. “Tell her what’s going on. Ask her…”
He spun around, his jaw like granite. I knew he was upset, but it had to be said. Didn’t it have to be said?
After that “dream” that I was sure wasn’t a dream, after seeing Sadie standing ominously at the foot of my bed, staring at us with accusations I didn’t quite understand and now Robbie being here, fighting for his life.
He whispered her name. We both heard him.
“It’s not her,” Eddie intoned.
I wasn’t so sure. There was something about her… something broken. He didn’t want to see it. I understood. It would be hard to wait for someone for twelve long years, get her back, get that chance to make amends for everything you thought you were responsible for, then have that chance taken away, too. To feel responsible for what she’d potentially become.
“Probably not.” I assured him. “But we need to at least know if she’s home. For Robbie. For her own protection.”
A low curse dropped from his lips. “I know.”
Instead of dialing the phone, though, Eddie shot forward to wrap me against him. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“You didn’t.” I clutched at his back. “It’s okay. This is terrible.”
He lifted his head, and I smiled up at him. Even in this dire circumstance, smiling at him wasn’t hard. Ruffling the hair falling over his forehead, I tilted my head. “Can I use your phone?”
He nodded, producing the cell. Maggie’s number was programmed in. I hit the button and listened to it ring.
Just when I started to think she wasn’t going to answer, her sleepy voice came on the line. “Hello?”
“Maggie,” I answered.
“Amnesia?” Her voice became more alert. “What in the world?” I heard her moving around. “What time is it? Are you calling from downstairs?”
“It’s early, and no. I’m at the hospital.”
“The hospital!” She gasped. “What’s happened?”
“I’m fine.” I quickly assured her. “Eddie, too. It’s Robbie, Eddie’s best friend,” I explained. “He was stabbed. He’s in surgery.”
“Good heavens!” she exclaimed. “How did this happen?”
“That’s sort of why I’m calling,” I told her timidly. As I spoke, I looked at Eddie. his face was drawn, his lips a hard line. “I need you to do something.”
“Of course, honey. Anything!”
Swallowing thickly, I plowed ahead. “Can you look and see if Sadie is in her room?”
“Sadie?” she wondered, then suddenly gasped. “You can’t possibly be suggesting…”
I felt like a villain. Like the only person who could possibly believe what Robbie said.
“Robbie said her name,” I tried to explain. “He grabbed my arm and said her name.”
“I see.”
I didn’t know what that meant.
“If you hold on, I’ll go check.”
I let out a sigh. “Thank you,” I murmured.
I heard her place the phone down. I closed my eyes tight. Please let her be asleep in bed. Please let it not be her.
Maggie was gone for what felt like forever. So long, in fact, I pulled the phone away from my ear to make sure it was actually still connected.
Eddie glanced at me, questions in his eyes. I shrugged.
“Amnesia?” Maggie said suddenly.
My reply was instant. “Is she there?”
“I checked her bedroom.” Maggie’s voice was shaky. “I checked the whole house.”
My heart sank. “Maggie,” I pleaded. Tell me she’s home.
“She isn’t here, Amnesia.” My eyes snapped up to Eddie’s. “Sadie isn’t in this house.”