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Max shrugged. “If it was a chemical poison, sure, but if it was just contaminated food, there’s no way to be certain. I could draw blood for a test, but it will take time and money to get the results.”
I nodded. “Do it.”
46
GRACE
After a restless nightbroken by intermittent rushed trips to the bathroom, I felt even worse than yesterday. Logically, I knew that my stomach had improved and it was just the throbbing in my head that made me so miserable, but that didn’t stop me from wallowing in self-pity. Some days called for a little moping, and this was one of them.
I must have looked awful, because Tess was able to convince Nate to let her stay home from school to keep me company—on the condition that she wear a mask and keep a safe distance. Kennedy came by to see me too, but I slept through most of her visit.
When I woke again, my head was less fuzzy. I glanced at the clock and saw it was just after noon. Tess was curled up in an armchair Nate had dragged into the room, her feet tucked beneath her and a book on her lap. My mouth felt dry, so I gingerly sat up and looked for my water bottle. I sipped, grateful for the coolness in my mouth until my tummy started feeling queasy from the water sloshing around the empty space. I lay back against the cushion again.
“Are you hungry?” Tess asked.
“A little,” I admitted. “I’ll get up and make some lunch soon.”
“No, you won’t.” Her tone was surprisingly stern. “Dad says you’re not to get out of bed unless it’s to use the bathroom.”
Yes, that sounded like Nate. He somehow managed to be both caring and bossy, even from a distance.
“Is soup all right?” Tess put her book down and extended her legs. “We have some of that chicken noodle stuff where you just add hot water. I could bring you some bread too if you want.”
Even though the thought of food made me feel nauseated, I forced myself to nod. Regardless of whether I wanted to eat, I needed to at least try. Without fuel, how was my body supposed to recover?
“That would be lovely.”
I dozed off again, only waking when Tess murmured my name. I sat up, and she passed me a tray upon which were a small bowl of chicken soup and a hunk of wholegrain bread.
“Thank you, Tess,” I said. “It’s so sweet of you to look after me.”
She went back to her spot on the armchair and picked up her book again. “I don’t mind. I get the day off school, and I like spending time with you. You’re the only person who doesn’t think it’s weird that I read all the time.” She bit her lip and tilted her sweet face toward me. “Mum and Dad buy me books and take me to the library, which is really cool, but they don’t get it like you do.”
Tess’s confession warmed my heart.
“Reading is wonderful,” I agreed. “It’s one of my favorite things. My parents didn’t understand either. They both had more important things to do with their time.”
Tess scowled. “More important than reading?”
If I didn’t feel so awful, I might have laughed. “So they said.” I tried not to harbor resentment against them, but sometimes I couldn’t help it. They hadn’t exactly been nurturing and supportive. “You’re lucky to have your mum and dad.”
“I know.” Her nose crinkled. “Some of the kids at school whose parents are divorced seem sad all of the time, and their parents are always angry. Mum and Dad have never been like that, although Dad gets angry sometimes.”
“He feels things strongly,” I said diplomatically.
I scooped a spoonful of soup and tentatively sipped it. It wasn’t bad, although my stomach wanted to revolt. Hopefully if I took it slow, the soup would stay down.
“Mum was angry the other day too,” Tess said. “She’s not normally like that. Maybe she was having strong feelings.”
I frowned, unsure whether I should ask more. Maddy wasn’t my business. But if Tess wanted to confide in me, I’d listen. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “She said that Dad is being selfish and that he’s stupid when it comes to anything to do with his perfect, beloved Gracie. Do you know what she meant?”
Ouch. “I’m not sure.”
Although I could hazard a guess. Maddy probably didn’t approve of Tess being near me given my potentially dangerous situation. Honestly, if that was the case, I didn’t blame her. Although I supposed it was also possible she was upset because Nate and I had gotten together.
“Oh.” Tess looked disappointed. As I raised the spoon to my mouth, she asked, “Can I tell you a secret?”
