“Jep took the blame for you.”
“He did?” Ella’s face crumpled.
“Mom and Dad don’t know. The police don’t know. Jep told everyone that he was the one driving.”
“Why?” Ella threw up her hands, her voice cracking. “Why would he?”
“To protect you.”
In one sudden motion, Ella flipped her covers back. She swung her legs over the side of the bed like she was going to run out of there.
“Wait!” Lucy stood, placing both hands on her sister’s shoulders, as if she could stop her. Ella was stronger now, and she leaned into Lucy hard. “Ella, wait. Listen. This is why I didn’t tellyou.” She pressed her forehead to her sister’s and held her. “I will help you tell the truth. But this isn’t going to help.”
Her eyes had filled with tears, but Ella was listening. Lucy felt her soften as she spoke.
“Is that why you keep saying you’re sorry?”
Between hiccups of tears, Ella nodded.
“Then let’s tell Mom and Dad the truth. I’ll help you, alright?”
“Jep.” Ella squeezed Lucy’s arm with her fingers. “I-want-Jep.” She sank back down onto her bed.
“I’ll get him,” Lucy promised. This time Ella let Lucy slide her legs back under the covers. “But first I’m going to tell Mom and Dad. They need to know. Okay?”
Ella slumped against her pillows and nodded. She looked like a broken little bird again.
Lucy could not tell her sister about the lawsuit. Not today. The note had already been too much.
“Don’t worry. Mom and Dad won’t be mad. Maybe this is good. Maybe they’ll let Jep come visit you now.” Even as she said these things, Lucy could not help but wonder. Their parents would not be mad. But they’d be gutted.
When her sister finally settled, Lucy kissed her on the cheek and smoothed the hair from her face. “Get some rest. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“With Jep?” Ella sat up.
“I’ll do my best,” Lucy told her, glancing back at the door. She didn’t want to risk upsetting Ella any more, but she couldn’t keep Eudora waiting longer, either.
To her relief, Ella sank back against her pillows again. “Jep,” she said. “Promise.”
“Promise.”
Ella had no way of knowing Jep had been banned from Spaulding, at her parents’ insistence. Lucy doubted that what she was about to tell them would change their minds. Still, a promise between sisters was a promise.
As she hurried down the hall to Mrs. Shipman, Lucy had an urgent list ahead of her. At the top, always, was Ella.
It was a quiet ride back to Chatham. “Is your sister doing well?” Mrs. Shipman asked.
“Yes, thank you,” Lucy replied. “She’ll be even better tomorrow.”
After Mrs. Shipman dropped her back at the bookstore, Lucy rode home as fast as she could. Inside the house was cool and dark, a welcome respite to the beads of perspiration on her face.
“Mom? Dad?” she called. No one answered. Before she went to find them, Lucy ran upstairs to Ella’s bedroom. She found what she needed tucked away in the jewelry box.
Back downstairs the kitchen was empty, but there were signs of dinner preparations underway. Lucy found them outside, on the patio, the grill smoking and her father sitting in a patio chair with a beer. Lucy could not remember the last time she’d seen him enjoy one.
“Hey,” she said, stepping outside to join them.
“Oh good, you’re back in time for supper!” Her mother came over and kissed her cheek. “You worked late today.”
