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Chapter 18
On Monday Annie, Nick, and Izzy drove to Sol Duc Hot Springs and hiked deep into the Olympic National Forest. Afterward, they swam in the lodge’s huge swimming pool and relaxed in the steaming, sulphuric hot springs. When dusk started to fall, they piled back into the car and headed home.
By the time they unpacked the car and got everything put away, it was almost midnight. Nick offered Annie his room, and she took him up on the offer. She called her dad, who was waiting up for her again, and told him that she’d be home first thing in the morning.
Is that wise, Annie Virginia? he asked in a quiet voice. She told him not to worry, and hung up the phone. Afterward, she wasn’t so sure she’d made a smart decision, but the truth was that she didn’t feel well. She wanted to collapse in a convenient bed and sleep for ten hours. Her back hurt, her head hurt, and she’d felt nauseous for most of the drive home. She was definitely not cut out for hiking.
She was careful to avoid Nick as she hurried upstairs, brushed her teeth, and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, she woke up feeling even worse. A headache pounded behind her eyes, and she had to lie very still in bed, concentrating on each breath, or she was certain she was going to throw up.
She counted slowly to ten, then angled up to her elbows. Sunlight slanted through her bedroom window. The glare hurt her eyes and intensified her headache. A beautiful morning in May, and she couldn’t enjoy it.
Swallowing thickly, she threw back the comforter and stumbled into the small adjoining bathroom. She didn’t bother turning on the light—she could see the shadowy pockets under her eyes perfectly well. She moved like a hundred-year-old woman, taking forever to brush her teeth and wash her face. When she was finished, she felt even worse.
She went back to bed and snuggled under the covers. A chill racked her body, and she closed her eyes.
Some time later—an hour? a minute?—a knock sounded at her door. Annie forced herself to sit up. “Come in. ”
Izzy poked her head through the open door. “Annie? I’m hungry. ”
Annie manufactured a wan smile. “Hi, honey. Come on in—but don’t get too close, I think I have the flu. ”
Izzy slipped into the room, closing the door behind her. “I was waitin’ for you to show up. I thought maybe you’d left us . . . but then Daddy tole me you’d spent the night. ”
Annie’s heart went out to the girl, whose brown eyes looked so big and worried. “I wouldn’t do that, Izzy. I wouldn’t disappear without saying good-bye. ”
“Grown-ups do that sometimes. ”
“Oh, Izzy . . . ” Annie shifted her position, trying to ignore a sudden wave of dizziness. “I know they do. ” She started to say something else, preferably something blindingly insightful, when she sneezed hard. She barely had time to get her hand in front of her mouth before she sneezed again. She sagged in bed, trying to remember when she’d felt this rotten.
Izzy’s eyes widened. “Are you sick?”
Annie gave her a weak smile of understanding. “Not really sick,” she answered quietly. “It’s just a cold. I bet you get them all the time. ”
Izzy visibly relaxed. “Yeah. That’s when green snot comes out of your nose. ”
“A lovely image, to be sure. I think I’m going to go to sleep for a while, but we’ll talk later. Okay?”
Izzy nodded slowly. “Okay. See yah. ”
Annie smiled weakly. “See you, pumpkin. ” When Izzy was gone, she leaned toward the bedside table and picked up the phone. After asking for the number from directory assistance, she called Dr. Burton’s office.
The receptionist answered on the first ring. “Mystic Family Clinic. This is Madge, how can I help you?”
“Hi, Madge. This is Annie Colwater. I’d like to make an appointment to see Dr. Burton. ”
“Is it an emergency, sweetie?”
Only if green snot constituted an emergency. “No. ”
“Well, the doctor’s out of town right now, on vacation at Orcas Island. He was afraid you might call. He wanted me to refer you to Dr. Hawkins in Port Angeles. ” Her voice lowered to a stage whisper. “He’s a psychiatrist. ”
Even in her weakened state, Annie smiled. “Oh, that’s not necessary. ”
“Oh, good. Now, you’re still booked for June first. Is that appointment okay?”
Annie had forgotten all about it. The depression she’d felt in March had faded into a dull, sepia-toned memory. She probably didn’t need the appointment, but it would reassure Doc Burton. He’d be proud of how well she’d recovered. “Yeah, that appointment’s fine. Thanks, Madge. ”
