The Joining Tree

by Claire Fogel

  She looked as though she felt sorry for Gavin. “Lily didn’t tell him how many people would be here for our Art Show, did she?”

  “Nope. She’ll never get a date with him now!”

  She laughed. “Serves her right. Will you be at the Café later for dinner?”

  “Yes, but I’m not sure Gavin will be with me.”

  “Well, please let him know we all think he’s gorgeous and very brave to pose for Lily. I predict he’ll have a lot of new friends on campus tomorrow.” She giggled.

  I chuckled as I walked back to where my painting was on display. Some students were already taking their artwork down and returning them to their classrooms. I was surprised to see that Gavin’s drawings were already gone. Maybe I’d find him inside one of our classrooms.

  I searched each of our classes but didn’t see him. He must have been moving at top speed, undoubtedly anxious to put his work away and go home. I decided to take my painting home with me. I’d hang it in the living room.

  When I got back outside, I saw people scattered here and there around the campus, but no one I knew personally. Gavin had apparently gone home without me. The sun hadn’t set yet, and the campus wasn’t actually deserted. I felt safe enough to walk home, my painting under my arm. If I wasn’t carrying a canvas, I would have jogged home, but it was too awkward.

  I looked around, but there was no one near me. By the time I was halfway across the campus, I could see the yellow house on Birch Street. I felt perfectly safe, even though Lieutenant Fox’s words echoed in my mind. I walked a little faster.

  When I reached the sidewalk in front of our house, I heard Ralph barking from the backyard. He sounded frantic and I began running. I had almost reached the steps to my front door when I thought I heard someone behind me. My keys slipped out of my hand and as I bent to pick them up, I glanced over my shoulder to see a figure in a dark hoodie swing something at my head. Darkness swallowed me before I hit the ground, Ralph’s frantic barks echoing faintly in my ears.

  When I opened my eyes, I was lying on my living room couch with something ice cold pressed against the side of my head. Gavin was leaning over me with a guilty look on his face. He whispered, “I’m so sorry, Cara. I was upset and I wasn’t thinking . . .”

  I heard Lieutenant Fox’s voice. It sounded as though he was on the phone.

  Gavin was pushed aside by a young man in a uniform who was fastening a blood pressure cuff around my arm.

  “Good. You’re awake. Can you sit up?” He lifted me to a sitting position and started shining a pen light into my eyes.

  I saw the Lieutenant over the EMT’s shoulder.

  “How is your head feeling, Cara?” he asked.

  “Hurts,” I mumbled. I was feeling dizzy. I asked the EMT, “Can I lie down now?”

  He lowered me back on the couch and I closed my eyes. My head felt like a drum somebody was pounding on.

  The EMT said, “We’re going to take a trip to the hospital now, Cara. I think you have a concussion and a doctor should take a look at you.”

  “No! I’ve had a concussion before. All I need is the ice pack and some aspirin. No hospitals, please.”

  The EMT frowned. “I can’t force you to go, but I think that lump on the side of your head needs to be looked at.”

  The Lieutenant knelt down next to me. “Cara, would it help if I went with you?”

  “Thanks, but no.” I looked up at Gavin, who was still crouched at the end of the couch. “What happened? Did you carry me in here?”

  “Yes. I was following Ralph, who was going crazy. When I reached the front of the house, I saw that kid hit you with a rock, and you went down.” He looked momentarily satisfied as he added, “He’s out cold now. I called Lieutenant Fox and he got here in minutes.”

  The EMT stood up, clearly disapproving. He told the Lieutenant, “Someone should at least keep an eye on her for the next forty-eight hours. I can’t do anything more for her here.”

  He left and I sat up slowly, holding the ice pack against my head. Gavin handed me two aspirin and a glass of water. I swallowed them and attempted to stand. Big mistake.

  “I think I’ll just stay where I am,” I said. I leaned back against the soft couch cushion.

  Lieutenant Fox sat down next to me with a pad and pen. “Cara, can you give me a little more information? I wouldn’t bother you if it could wait. The man we found in your yard was taken to the hospital in another ambulance. He was still unconscious when they left with him.”

  He looked over at Gavin. “By the way, what did you hit him with?”

  Gavin shrugged. “My fist.”

  The Lieutenant looked amused for a few seconds. “I suspect he’s the stalker we’ve been looking for, but I’d like to be sure before he wakes up.”

  Without nodding, I said, “Okay. All I can tell you is that I didn’t see him behind me when I left campus. He must have had ninja training because I never heard him behind me. When I heard Ralph barking like mad, I started running. Then it was lights out. I woke up here on the couch.”

  He said, “Okay, Cara. I think one or more of the other girls he followed may be able to identify him.”

  He put the pad and pen in his jacket pocket and stood. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” He hesitated. “Cara, I hope you consider me a friend you can call on anytime. I mean it.”

  “Thanks, Lieutenant. There’s really nothing you can do. I’m a disaster magnet. I’ve accepted it. Maybe you should too.” I closed my eyes. The aspirin hadn’t touched my headache.

  I heard him chuckle. “I seem to remember you mentioning that before. At the time I was sure you were exaggerating. Get some sleep. I’ll check in on you tomorrow.”

  I heard him leave. The next voice I heard was Laurie Williams.

  She whispered. “Gavin, is Cara asleep? I can come back later.”

  I opened my eyes. “No, I’m awake, Laurie. My head is splitting.”

  “You poor thing. I’m so sorry, Cara. Would you like me to help you into your room? I think you might be more comfortable in bed.” My dog sat at my feet looking sad and whimpering a little.

  I decided she might be right. I sat up and she helped me off the couch and into my bedroom. Gavin was still sitting on the floor next to the couch. He looked miserable.

  “Gavin, not your fault. Really. Please stop looking like your life is over. I’ll be okay.”

  Laurie helped me get my jeans and boots off. When one of the knives slid out of its boot sheath, she gasped. “I didn’t realize you still carried them, Cara.”

  As I sank back into my bed, I muttered, “Never leave home without ‘em.”

  I heard her sigh. Then I heard the light switch click and her footsteps leave the room. I felt Ralph jump up on the foot of my bed, and I fell asleep.

  I dreamed continuously, always the same dream, the one I’d been trying to erase from my mind. I was at my parents’ wedding party in our backyard, in my pink and ivory dress, standing behind a tree with Adam who was kissing me senseless. I felt joyful and bereft at the same time, knowing I’d never have a chance to kiss him again.

  When I woke up around dawn, my pillow was soaked. I’d tried so hard to push Adam from my mind, but he was still there, breaking my heart all over again. It had to be the head injury working on my poor brain.

  I closed my eyes, flipped my pillow to the dry side, and snuggled my teary face into it. I just wanted to forget.

  A few hours later I heard my parents’ voices from the living room. Laurie must have called Mom, and, of course, they drove up again. That brought on more tears.

  What was wrong with me? I felt like I was dissolving, watering away. I never cried anymore. I hadn’t cried in over a year. This had to stop.

  I forced myself out of bed and into the bathroom, washed up, realized I was still wearing yesterday’s shirt over my underwear, and grabbed my robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Unfortunately, it was white terrycloth. I looked in the mirror and saw that I
matched it. Except for my eyes, which were ringed in purple.

  Being hit on the side of the head had given me two almost-black eyes. Terrific.

  Adding to my splendor, my hair was hopelessly snarled. I looked like a wild animal, a wild animal with purple eyes. I groaned and sat down on the toilet seat.

  There was a soft knock on the bathroom door. “Cara? It’s Mom. Do you need help?”

  “Come on in, Mom. But brace yourself.”

  She opened the door, took one look at me, bent down to kiss my head, and said, “I think this is a job for your father, sweetheart. Can I make you a cup of tea or coffee?”

  “Sure. Tea sounds good. Tell Dad I need a little of his magic.”

  “Okay, why don’t you come out to the living room when you’re ready. Miss Williams just left. It’ll be easier for your father to comb your hair out there. Don’t worry. It’s just the three of us.”

  “Okay.” I left the bathroom, and for reasons that are unclear, I changed my socks but kept my bathrobe on. I also grabbed my wide-tooth comb. When I walked into the living room, my father simply said, “Come here, Cara, let me get those tangles out.”

  I sat down in front of him and handed him the comb. Just as he had once before, he began separating my long hair, one strand at a time, pulling the comb through, again and again. And just as before, he did it painlessly. My father had magic in his hands.

  “All done, sweetheart. Now drink your tea and try to relax. I won’t ask you what happened. Miss Williams and Lieutenant Fox covered that.”

  “You spoke to the Lieutenant?” I should have known he’d call my parents.

  Mom said, “Yes, he called us last night. He’s concerned about the lump on your head. He said you refused to go to the hospital. I think he hoped we’d have some influence on you.”

  I rolled my eyes. That hurt too.

  “Cara, your father and I agree with the Lieutenant. You need some tests that can only be done at a hospital, so here’s what we’re suggesting. We want to take you to Greenville Hospital where they checked you out the last time you had a head injury. They’ll take x-rays and probably a CT-scan. They’ll be able to compare the new pictures with your old ones. We have to make sure it’s not more than a concussion. Then I’d like to take you home with us for a few days, just to make sure you’ll rest.”

  I didn’t say anything right away. Mom was probably waiting for an argument, but I decided to surprise her.

  “Okay. I’ll bet you also got in touch with Mrs. Barrett to say I’d be out of school for a few days. Right?”

  She smiled. “Yes, I did. I’m glad you’re not fighting me, Cara. You don’t take chances with a head injury. Do you need to pack?”

  “I have clothes at home, Mom, so I’ll just need a few things from the bathroom.”

  I went into my room, grabbed a duffle bag, threw a few things into it, and got dressed. Other than my boots, I have no idea what I put on, just that it smelled clean.

  When I returned to them, it finally occurred to me that I hadn’t seen my roommate.

  “Where’s Gavin? It’s Saturday, so there are no classes.”

  “Laurie said a few of your friends came by this morning asking about you. She told them you were sleeping, and they took Gavin out with them for breakfast. He hasn’t been back.”

  I groaned, remembering at the last minute not to shake my sore head. “I think Gavin feels responsible for my attack. He’d gone home before I did.”

  My father said, “I see. If he’d walked home with you, you wouldn’t have been attacked. Why did he leave without you?”

  “He was upset about something and simply forgot. I’m not blaming him, Dad.”

  I could see from the expression on my father’s face that he did blame Gavin, even if I didn’t. He didn’t say anything, but I knew he’d be speaking to Gavin first chance he got.

  “Okay, I’m ready. I’m not hungry, so I’d just as soon skip breakfast, Mom. Let’s go to the hospital and get it over with. I’ll just leave Gavin a note.”

  I jotted a quick note to let him know I’d be gone for a few days, reminded him to feed Ralph, and left him our home phone number so he could call me.

  I knew a long car ride wasn’t going to do my aching head any good, so I grabbed the pillow off my bed. We got into Mom’s car and headed for Greenville.

  Mom had given me aspirin before we left, so I got as comfortable as possible in the back seat of her car and fell asleep.

  My father had called Dr. Costello, his friend at Greenville Hospital, so I was checked out quickly. The blow to my head had produced nothing more than a concussion and a nasty headache, so we were in and out in two hours. I turned down Dr. Costello’s offer of pain pills, and after the necessary paperwork, we headed for Thornewood and home.

  When Mom asked me why I’d turned down the pain meds, I said, “Too many dreams.” She patted my hand, and I knew she understood.

  As she pulled up the driveway next to our house, I was really grateful to be home, safe with my parents. That made me feel about twelve, but I was still a little shaky from being hit over the head again. Being a disaster magnet was wearing me down.

  When we got into the house, Mom offered to make me lunch, but I opted to go straight to bed. My head was still pounding, and I was actually nauseated. I just wanted to lie down and, hopefully, sleep.

  “Sweetheart, I have to go in to the bookstore for a few hours. Your father will be here if you need anything.”

  I remembered not to nod my head. “Okay, Mom. I’ll be all right.” But when I walked into my bedroom and didn’t see Ralph on my bed, I felt terrible. He was probably lying on my bed in Syracuse, wondering where I was .

  Yeah, I was depressed. And in pain. I pulled my clothes off and sank into my covers as I felt tears in my eyes again. I prayed for no more dreams.

  It must have been after dinner before I opened my eyes again. I lay there until I felt capable of lifting my head off the pillow, curious about the voices I heard from below. The pounding in my head was reduced to a dull roar, so I got out of bed carefully.

  As soon as I left my bedroom, I could hear Amy downstairs with Mom. The blow to my head was affecting my sense of balance and I took the stairs slowly. When I walked into the kitchen, Amy jumped up to hug me. I was really happy to see her until she exclaimed, “Sweetie, you look like crap!”

  I gave her a narrow-eyed look. “Really?”

  “I’m so sorry, Cara. I already know what happened. Gavin called me last night. He was so upset, he was practically in tears, swearing he’d failed you again.”

  “I know. I told him he wasn’t to blame, that I’d be okay, but he looked miserable the last time I saw him.”

  “Cara, he didn’t tell me why he’d been so upset that he’d forgotten to stay and walk home with you. What’s the story?”

  I looked across the table to see my father frowning. He apparently wanted an explanation too.

  I explained that Gavin had agreed to pose for Lily, the photographer who had taken such great pictures of me the previous year. When I told them that the pictures were nudes and that Gavin hadn’t known that crowds of people would see them at our Art Show, Mom’s mouth dropped open. However, my father and Amy both looked angry.

  Amy said, “So that’s why Gavin was upset. Well, I don’t blame him, but why did he agree to pose nude in the first place? Lily didn’t ask you to take your clothes off, did she?”

  “No, she didn’t. But I should tell you that Lily has been after Gavin ever since he arrived at school.” Amy shook her head, still looking highly annoyed.

  My father added, “To be fair, you should understand that Elves aren’t embarrassed by their physical bodies. We feel that our bodies are beautiful and nudity is perfectly normal. I think that’s why Gavin agreed to pose for her. However, he’s spent enough time in the human world that he’s also aware that nudity is a more sensitive subject for humans. Which is why he was upset when he realized so many people would see those photo
s.”

  Frowning, he said, “Nevertheless, running home and leaving you alone was inexcusable. I will be talking to him.”

  Amy shook her head. “I’ll be talking to him too, Mr. Blackthorne, but probably for different reasons.” Turning to me, she added, “You’re sure you’re not mad at him, Cara?”

  “Nope. I understand why he was upset and needed to leave campus. Lily’s the one I’m mad at, and I’ll be speaking to her when I get back.”

  Mom put some toast in front of me. “Here, dear, you should eat something. You’ve had nothing at all today.”

  My appetite had returned and I gobbled down the toast quickly.

  “If you’re feeling a little better, dear, there’s someone in the back yard who’d like to see you.” She chuckled. “I’ve been singing her song at night. I don’t have your voice, of course, but she seems to appreciate it anyway.”

  I wanted to see her too. I walked to the back door and went out on the porch. Amy followed me.

  “She won’t mind, will she?” Amy asked.

  “No, she likes to see my friends.”

  All I could see in the dark was the dragon’s golden eyes.

  I leaned against the railing. “Hi, Rowenna. Mom just told me you wanted to see me. I hope you haven’t been waiting too long. I slept all day.”

  Your mother told me you’d been hit over the head and that she and your father were going to bring you home today. How is your head?

  “It’ll be fine in a few days. Please don’t worry.”

  I want to know where is the person who hurt you. He should be punished.

  “He’s in jail. I think he’ll be staying there for a long time.”

  That’s too bad. I had my own punishment in mind for him.

  I shuddered slightly. Rowenna was a fire-breathing dragon, and I had seen proof of that before.

  Cara, I sense that you are in two kinds of pain. You’ve been dreaming again, I think. It is not just your head that hurts.

  I sighed. “You’re right, of course. I try very hard not to dream. I try to forget.”