When he finally said goodbye, I pounced. “Well?”
“That was Mrs. Schuster’s son calling from the hospital. He says his mother is doing very well. ‘Back to her cranky self,’ he says. He’s invited you and Jason to visit tonight. Seven o’clock, before visiting hours are over. She’s been insisting on it. Says she threatened to not take her meds if he didn’t extend the invitation immediately.”
I was relieved Mrs. Schuster was doing so well, and I was excited to go see her. Mostly. Now that I knew the truth, my stomach flip-flopped over what to say to her. Did I confess that I’d read the letters? Did I wait until Mrs. Schuster confessed?
I liked that option best. As long as Mrs. Schuster didn’t want to tell another story about Cap’n Black Marge.
25
The sterile smell of the hospital overpowered me when the doors whooshed open. I gripped the bouquet of flowers tighter. Hospitals made me nervous.
In the waiting area, Jason jumped up from his chair with a big grin and ran over. His dad shuffled after him. “I’ve been dying to talk to you, but your line’s been busy.”
My face suddenly felt hot. I hadn’t thought of that. “Probably Kate. She’s always hogging the phone.” I couldn’t look him in the eye. Even if the lie was for his own good.
“It’s been amazing, Annie! People have been leaving boxes of food on our porch. Anything you could want: bread, eggs, vegetables, fruit. We’ve tried to catch them, but it’s like magic. The doorbell keeps ringing, the boxes keep appearing, and not a trace of who’s doing it! I thought it was you until the fourth or fifth time it happened. I knew there was no way you could have gone so long without getting caught.”
“I could have done it!” I bristled at the insult.
“Did you?” Jason asked.
He had me there. “Well … no,” I grumped.
Jason crossed his arms looking all smug.
“That’s what I thought.”
It totally stunk that I couldn’t argue, but I didn’t want to give myself away. Plus, Jason’s dad now stood behind him. I clamped my mouth shut, hoping Mr. Parker wouldn’t remember that Jason and I were supposed to be grounded from each other. I thought.
It caught me completely off-guard when Jason’s dad smiled at me as he shook my dad’s hand.
“Bianca is with Mrs. O’Reilly canning the produce we won’t be able to eat fast enough. We’re simply floored by it all. We wish we knew who to thank —” he eyed me and I batted my eyes all innocent-like — “but whoever is doing it must know us pretty well. I’m not sure I could accept it if I had a place to send it back to.”
I didn’t dare look at my dad. It was hard enough keeping the grin off my face.
Mr. Parker hesitated, then went all serious. “Frankly, it’s a godsend. Last night after you left, Jason prayed for a miracle I knew wouldn’t happen. But I was wrong.” His voice was husky, and I could practically see the pride for his son beaming from his eyes. “I-It’s been humbling. We have good neighbors.”
I know an opportunity when I see one. I cleared my throat. “So … um … does this mean we’re not grounded from each other?”
Mr. Parker looked surprised. His cheeks even went a little pink. “You’re not grounded. And I’m sor— well, you’re always welcome at our house.”
I thought my face would crack from grinning — Jason’s too. “Thank you!” I was so happy I thought I might float away. It wasn’t until my dad nudged me that I remembered we were in a hospital.
“Mrs. Schuster will be waiting. We’d better go.”
We rode up the elevator to the fourth floor with Jason giving a play-by-play of the soccer game I missed.
“Lila was playing forward, just standing there admiring her new fake nails, when Bryce cleared the ball. So it sails over everyone and smacks Lila right on her hand, breaking three nails. You would’ve thought she got mugged! They stopped the game to get her off the field.”
A week ago I would have laughed. Somehow, it didn’t seem as funny now.
“Here we are. Room four fifteen.” Dad knocked on the partially opened door.
A swarm of butterflies filled my gut. Just act normal, I told myself. Still, I stayed behind my dad.
Jason nudged me. “The papers?” he mouthed.
I patted the lump in my back pocket wishing I could tell him the story. But that was impossible with our dads right there. “Later,” I mouthed back.
“Well don’t just stand in the doorway.” Mrs. Schuster’s voice snapped at us. “You’re the first people I’ve actually wanted to see all day.”
I followed everyone in. When I saw Mrs. Schuster, I almost had my own heart attack. I wanted to hide my face in my dad’s shirt.
Lying in that bed, Mrs. Schuster looked even older than usual, if that was possible. Her grayish hair stuck up at odd angles. Her ashen face matched the white hospital walls, except for the black rings under her eyes.
Machines surrounded the bed, beeping like time bombs ready to go off. Tubes were strung from Mrs. Schuster’s hand to mysterious bags of liquid. Another tube lay across her face with prongs up her nose.
Gross.
Dad pulled me forward. “We’re glad to see you doing so well. We brought you these.” He elbowed me.
I held up the roses, but what I really wanted to do was puke. Doing so well? Mrs. Schuster didn’t look like she was doing well at all! She looked like she’d been force-fed smushed peanut butter and jelly sandwiches then kicked in the stomach.
“Very thoughtful of you. Just set them over there.” Mrs. Schuster pointed to a shelf near the window. “I’ll have my son put them in water when he gets back. Got to make him useful somehow. Still thinks he can tell me what to do.” The words sounded grumpy, but her eyes twinkled.
Dad chuckled. “Being a son myself, I’d guess he’s pretty worried. I’m just your neighbor, and I was pretty worried.”
Mrs. Schuster cleared her throat. “Well. I didn’t invite you here to listen to an old woman’s complaints. The nursing staff fills that role just fine. If I may, I’d like to speak to Annie and Jason alone. I have something I need to tell them.”
My dad glanced at Jason’s, who nodded. “We’ll be right outside if you need us.”
“And keep that nosy son of mine out there, too.” She winked.
When the door squeaked shut, my heart clattered in my chest. Heart attacks weren’t contagious, were they?
“Thank you. For finding me, I mean.” Mrs. Schuster licked her lips. “If this had happened two months ago, I’d be dead.”
I could only stare. All those years of her screaming at us kids, I’d never thought about how lonely she must have been. My nose prickled and I knew tears wouldn’t be far behind if I wasn’t careful. But I refused to cry. I’d done enough of that last night.
“What happened?” Jason asked. He didn’t sound like his usual shy self at all. But then, he’s the one who’d kept his head last night. He was the real hero. It must be a law of nature that once you save someone’s life you can’t be shy with them.
“Heart attack. A minor one. Nothing a few more medications can’t fix. But this is boring adult talk. I want to talk about the map and Cap’n Black Marge.”
I felt sick. The one thing I didn’t want to talk about. Of course it’s the first thing she brought up. Another of nature’s laws. Nature obviously had a sick sense of humor.
I stared at the tubes taped to Mrs. Schuster’s wrist. To the blood that filled the first inch or two. Should I admit I’d read the letters or just play along?
“I lied,” Mrs. Schuster said.
My breath caught. I hadn’t expected a confession.
Jason just stood there.
“Cap’n Black Marge isn’t real.” The snap in Mrs. Schuster’s eyes faded. She seemed to sink farther into her pillow. “I — I made her up, hoping you’d visi
t to hear her story.” She paused. A smile cracked her lips. “Wow, I sound pathetic, don’t I? It’s the schoolyard all over again.”
I choked a laugh. “Why? You didn’t even like us before. Why did you want us to visit now?” Okay. I’d read the letters. I knew the answer. But I wanted to hear her say it.
Mrs. Schuster sniffed. She sat there for a long time, staring off into space. Just when I was going to say something, she snapped back to reality, throwing a glance at the door. “I haven’t told anyone this. Not even my son.”
I didn’t dare move. I didn’t want to do anything to make Mrs. Schuster change her mind about telling. Jason squeezed in closer.
“Where to begin?” Mrs. Schuster sighed. “I have a granddaughter who’s just your age. I didn’t even know about her until this summer.”
“How could you not know about her if she’s ten?”
I elbowed Jason. “Let her talk!”
Mrs. Schuster chuckled. “They say laughter’s the best medicine. I can’t tell you two how good you’ve been for me.
“Anyway. Here’s the short version. When I was fifteen, I left home. Sound familiar? I’m Marge. Her story is mine. I just embellished the details a little. So I married Leonard when I was seventeen, but he turned out to be a lout. Abuse and other things you don’t want to hear about. When I found out I was pregnant, I left.” Her face hardened. “No money, no place to stay, and I didn’t even have a high school diploma. I wanted to keep the baby, but I had nothing. And I couldn’t go home. Not with Pappy and his liquor.”
I scooted closer.
“So I found an agency that specialized in helping girls in that situation. A place to stay, food to eat, and three golden hours with my daughter before the adoptive parents took her. Two weeks later, the agency sent me off with a little money in my pocket, and a big, empty hole in my heart.”
I hung on every word. It was like one of Mom’s soap operas, only real. I had to jump in. “Your daughter was the treasure, wasn’t she?”
Mrs. Schuster nodded. “I spent years trying to find her. All in secret. My Edward, Ned, had such a tender heart. I should have told him. That’s my biggest regret.”
“Isn’t giving up the baby your biggest regret?” Jason looked confused.
I elbowed him again. “Jason!” Even I knew better than to ask a question like that, which was saying something.
Mrs. Schuster laughed. “You two … No, it took me a long time to get there, but giving up my daughter was the right choice. She’s happy. She had a happy childhood. That’s the most any parent can ask.” She paused, and her shoulders slumped.
“Recently, I found her. Hired a private detective. Thing is, she didn’t want to see me, which I can’t blame her for. I’d prepared myself for that. But it was a blow learning I have a grandchild I’ll never meet.” Her voice was barely audible.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I pulled the letter from my back pocket and laid it in her lap. “I found this last night.”
Mrs. Schuster unfolded the wad of paper. She stared in shock. “You knew?”
I nodded. “The letters were scattered on the floor last night. When I picked them up I accidentally read part of the first one. I knew your husband wasn’t Leonard, and you only had a son. I just wanted to understand. I know I shouldn’t have read your …”
“Then you don’t hate me?” Tears welled up in Mrs. Schuster’s eyes. The papers trembled in her hands. “I never meant to deceive you like that. I convinced myself you were just playing along, enjoying the hunt … until you mentioned Jason’s house. That’s when the guilt set in. I wanted to tell you. I even tried a couple times, but I was addicted to your company, and I didn’t know how to tell you without losing you.” She wiped at her face. “I know I don’t deserve it, but I humbly ask for your forgiveness.”
I pulled a tissue from the box on the table and handed it to Mrs. Schuster. “I forgive you. And not just because you’re on your deathbed, either.”
Mrs. Schuster snorted, then coughed. Her trembling hand wavered in front of her mouth with the tissue, but I could tell she was smiling.
Jason shrugged. “I never believed you anyway. All grown-ups lie. It’s like your brain chemistry changes when you turn eighteen and you can’t help yourself or something.”
Mrs. Schuster wheezed and started coughing again. I tensed to get help until I realized she was laughing.
I giggled until the beeping monitors sped up. The screen flashed red. Jason and I were halfway to the door when it swung open and a sandy-haired man rushed in. He looked familiar with his neatly trimmed beard. I could almost place him.
“Mother! Are you okay? What are you … are you laughing?”
Tears streamed down Mrs. Schuster’s face again, but this time with laughter. She waved her son away, shaking her head and wheezing in obvious glee.
“It’s not funny, Mother. Do you want to die?”
Jason nudged me and gave an ominous look. He pointed subtly at the man, then rubbed his thumb over his fingers. The universal sign for money. Horrifying recognition struck.
Two nurses bustled in. One focused in on Jason and me even though we’d flattened ourselves against the wall. “I’m afraid you two will have to leave.” Her voice was stern.
We fled, grateful for the excuse. We needed to be gone before Mrs. Schuster’s son came out again.
Grabbing my dad’s hand, I pulled him toward the elevators. “We should …” But it was too late. The door opened and Mrs. Schuster’s son slipped out. I caught a last snippet of Mrs. Schuster’s voice before the door closed.
“Now I’m not allowed to laugh, either? Next it’ll be breathing!”
“She acts like we’re out to …” The son’s voice trailed off when he caught sight of us. His jaw, neatly trimmed beard and all, dropped.
I pretended to be fascinated by the lone purple tile on the floor where I stood. But I could feel him looking at me.
“These are your children? … My mother’s rescuers?” His voice sounded unsure. I dared a peek. His gaze flicked from Jason to his dad, and I could practically see the wheels turning. He remembered us. I prayed he wouldn’t say anything. Wasn’t it bad enough he’d refused to help?
“Mr. Parker, you said?” Jason’s dad nodded. “And Mr… .”
“Jenkins.” My dad finished for him.
“You have extraordinary children. In fact …” The man scratched his head. “This is a bit awkward, but I’d like to thank them. I don’t suppose they mentioned a certain trip to the …”
I stiffened. I shook my head, trying to beam the message to stop. But Jason cracked.
“We went to the bank!” His wild eyes reminded me of a cornered cat.
I slumped. So much for being welcome at Jason’s house.
Our dads looked blankly at Jason. “The bank?” Mr. Parker asked.
Mrs. Schuster’s son cleared his throat. “Let me introduce myself properly. As I said before, I’m Scott Schuster, Mrs. Schuster’s son. But I’m also vice president in charge of lending at First Regional Bank of Northern Utah.” He extended his hand, and when Mr. Parker didn’t reach for it, my dad did.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Annie and Jason last Monday. They visited a branch of our bank requesting … ah … requesting mercy for a certain loan.” He glanced at my dad, but addressed Mr. Parker.
“I see.” Jason’s dad spoke through clenched teeth. I cringed at the anger he was able to convey in those two words. I scooted behind my dad.
“I don’t want to get them in trouble, sir. In fact, they were most charming. Gave a glowing report of the loan holder’s character.”
“Really?” Mr. Parker looked surprised, which was a nice break from the glare he’d been giving Jason.
“Most definitely. In light of what your children have done for my mother, I’d be willing to look more closely at their re
quest. Though I can’t make any guarantees without looking at the file, I’m fairly confident we could find a workable solution if the loan holder so chose.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I jumped out from behind my dad and grinned at Jason, who grinned back. He could stay! I wanted to shout for joy, do cartwheels down the hallway, and wave a victory banner from the roof. Jason could stay!
Mr. Parker rubbed the back of his neck. “I — wow, this has been a day of miracles. I’m speechless at your offer. It’s extremely generous. But as the loan holder, I have to decline.”
My ears rang with Mr. Parker’s words. Cold washed over me and I shivered through my jacket. “You what?” I couldn’t have heard him right.
“It’s funny — crazy — really. We had an offer on our home yesterday. Bianca and I were waiting for everything to clear before we told anyone.”
“I can respect that.” Mr. Schuster shook hands with him.
My dad held out his hand as well. The traitor. “Congratulations, Ted! That’s wonderful news.”
“I give Bianca the credit. She keeps the house so beautiful. I know California’s far,” he spoke to Jason now, “but family’s there. And we’ll be together. This offer’s a chance for a fresh start.”
Jason gave me a look. A pitiful look that was a whole speech without a single word. I’d been friends with Jason my whole life. I knew what he meant. What he was asking. My heart sank. I gave a quick nod, then looked away.
“It’ll be okay, Dad,” Jason said.
His words burned in my ears. I couldn’t speak. My throat was too full of tears. I stared at the floor, where the purple tile lay all alone. And I knew exactly how that tile felt.
“Though you declined my offer, I’d still like to do something for Annie and Jason to say thank you,” Mr. Schuster said.
I wiped at my drippy nose. My life as I knew it lay in ruins around me, but an iPhone could go a long way in terms of comfort. I held my breath.
The Last Great Adventure of the PB & J Society Page 17
