The Patient from Silvertree: Book One in the Silvertree Series

by Marian Dribus

  “Your contingency plan?” said Lisa’s father.

  “I thought it would be easy, but it’s turning out to be quite a struggle,” said Graham. “I may have overestimated its potential. It wasn’t so bad when I was getting a steady stream of data from you, but now I’ve got nothing to show for it. I’m currently finalizing the details of a last-ditch effort to turn it around.”

  “Then why are you here?” said Lisa’s father.

  “Because my contingency plan needs a contingency plan,” said Graham. “When you work for a boss like mine, you tend to take precautions. It used to be the original plan, but I convinced my boss it wasn’t feasible because I couldn’t find what I needed to pull it off. My boss doesn’t know it’s still an option.”

  “What is it?” said Lisa’s father.

  “Richard’s notebook,” said Graham. “I want it.”

  “I don’t have it,” said Lisa’s father. “Richard wouldn’t even let me look at it while we were working together. He’s incredibly paranoid about it. Besides, I don’t even know where he is. He left without telling anyone where he was going. I’ve been trying to call him, but he won’t answer his phone.”

  “Well, I suggest you find him,” said Graham. “I’m not playing around, Andrew. My boss may think I’m incompetent, but I’m going to prove my value, and you’re going to help me. If you do, I’ll leave you alone from now on. You’ll never have to see me again. Doesn’t that sound like a fair proposition?”

  “I don’t know,” said Lisa’s father. “You’re a fast talker, Graham.”

  “For which you should be immensely grateful,” said Graham. “My fast talking was the only thing that saved you from a quick trip to hell. My boss wanted you dead, plain and simple, and it would have been easy enough to arrange.”

  “So why didn’t you?” said Lisa’s father, who was in such a diminished mental state that he was more curious than disturbed.

  “It’s a matter of principle,” said Graham. “My boss has taught me to be pragmatic. It isn’t always easy for me to view people as tools to be used, but I’ve got a decent grasp of the concept. You’re my only link to that notebook. There’s no reason for you to have any loyalty to Richard. He abandoned you, even though he knew I was twisting your arm. Why don’t you return the favor by stabbing him in the back?”

  “Because I can’t,” said Lisa’s father. “I’d give you the notebook right now if I had it, but I don’t. Look, Graham, if you really want it so much, why don’t you hunt Richard down and ask him for it yourself?”

  Graham’s face became diabolical.

  “Oh, no,” he said. “That’s your job, Andrew. I’ve stuck my neck out for you on more than one occasion, and you owe me.” He staggered to his feet. “I need to impress my boss. I’m suffering more than you realize. I don’t like making my own decisions. If you don’t help me, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “That’s unfortunate for you, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” said Lisa’s father. “You’ve turned my life into a nightmare, Graham, and it sounds like you’re finally getting what you deserve. Now, would you please get out of my room?”

  With a resentful glare, Graham shuffled to the door.

  “You’ll regret this, Andrew,” he said. “I thought we were friends, but it looks like I was wrong. You’re just like Richard, pretending to be perfect when you’re just as depraved as everyone else. You’ve got a lot of nerve, blaming me for your problems. I’ll give you four weeks to deliver the notebook. Call me when you’re ready to meet.”

  He left before Lisa’s father could reply. Lisa’s father was baffled. Graham’s willingness to take matters into his own hands without the approval of his boss indicated a disruption in the status quo that boded ill for everyone. He decided to make a cursory search for Richard so he could at least tell Graham he had tried. More importantly, it would give him something to think about other than the impending disintegration of his family.

  ∞∞∞

  Josh’s relationship with his mother improved drastically over the next week, and he finally started to let his guard down in her presence. Strangely enough, the realization that she was teetering on the brink of death rarely entered his mind now that she was no longer receiving Peterson’s drug. She insisted on seeing him often, and he spent the afternoons sitting at her bedside when he wasn’t with Lisa.

  The chemotherapy made her miserable. Her mouth broke out in sores, and she was constantly nauseated. Still, there was no reason for her to stay in the hospital, so she was discharged once her blood count returned to normal. Josh was glad to have her home, but it wasn’t long before she started pestering him about Lisa, so he invited her to visit despite his better judgment. When they entered the apartment that day after school, his mother extended her arms toward Lisa.

  “It’s wonderful to see you again, darling,” she said. “Come here.”

  She made a spot for Lisa among the couch cushions. Josh noticed the gloomy faces of Shannon and Stephen as they retreated to their rooms. He felt guilty, but there was nothing he could do to make them feel better. He got a chair from the kitchen and sat down near his mother, relieved to see that Lisa looked perfectly comfortable.

  “It hurts to talk, but I want to hear about your day,” said his mother to Lisa, wincing as she spoke. “How was school?”

  The conversation became tedious as Josh’s mother questioned Lisa about the miniscule details of her life. Josh thought she was being intrusive, but Lisa didn’t seem offended, and he admired her patience. He was reflecting on Lisa’s extraordinary ability to be pleasant when his mother’s voice brought him back to reality.

  “If you’re not graduating this year, does that mean you can’t go to prom?” she said.

  “No,” said Lisa. “Well, technically, I could, but—”

  “I haven’t asked her,” said Josh.

  “Why not?” said his mother.

  “Because we haven’t been together for very long, and it’s only a few weeks away,” said Josh.

  “So?” said his mother. “That’s not an excuse. Josh, you’ve already missed out on so much of your senior year because of me. I’m not going to let you miss out on this, too. Lisa is your girlfriend. You should take her to prom. I’ve made up my mind, so don’t argue with me. Bring me the checkbook. It’s on the cabinet in the kitchen.”

  “Mom, it’s not an issue of money,” said Josh.

  “Stop being so difficult,” she said. He brought her the checkbook. She snatched it out of his hands and prepared to write. “How much are the tickets?”

  “I don’t know,” said Josh. With a sinking heart, he realized her interference in his life wasn’t going to stop just because she was temporarily satisfied with his behavior. “I haven’t been paying attention, because I wasn’t planning to go.”

  “They’re fifty dollars,” said Shannon’s voice.

  Josh turned in surprise. Shannon was standing in the doorway. Her typical scornful expression was absent, and she almost looked bashful.

  “Can I go, too?” she said.

  “Shannon, you don’t even have a boyfriend,” said her mother.

  “There are some other girls in my class who don’t have dates,” said Shannon. “They invited me to tag along with them. We would all go as a group. Would that be okay?”

  “Shannon, prom is for couples,” said Josh’s mother. “I’m not trying to disappoint you, but I really don’t see the point.”

  “Whatever, Mom,” said Shannon. “Dad already bought me a ticket. I just wanted to see what you would say.”

  She went into the kitchen. Josh heard her clattering around, making an excessive amount of noise.

  “Mom, she’s obviously upset,” he said.

  “She’ll be fine,” said his mother. “Don’t worry about her.” She started scribbling in the checkbook and tearing out checks. “Here, this is for your tickets. Josh, this is for your suit. Lisa, this is for your dress.”

  “Thank you,” said
Lisa, “but I really can’t—”

  “Take it, darling,” said Josh’s mother. “It’s my gift to you.”

  “But I don’t need five hundred dollars,” said Lisa. She sounded desperate. Josh was so shocked by his mother’s reckless generosity that he couldn’t speak, but his surprise quickly changed to embarrassment as he noticed Lisa looking around the drab apartment with its sparse furnishings and bare walls. “Paying for the tickets is already more than generous. You don’t have to—”

  “Lisa, I want to,” she said. “This might be my only chance to spoil you. Josh, my jewelry box is on the dresser in the bedroom. Go get it.”

  Josh wanted to protest, but he was afraid of making things more awkward for Lisa, so he did as he was told. His mother reached into the jewelry box and pulled out a necklace. It was an aquamarine pendant shaped like a teardrop and strung on a chain of yellow gold. She held it up to the window, and the afternoon sun glowed in its depths like a blue flame.

  “Mom, what are you doing?” said Josh.

  His mother ignored him.

  “What do you think about this necklace?” she said to Lisa.

  “It’s beautiful,” said Lisa.

  Josh’s mother nodded with satisfaction.

  “I’m glad you like it,” she said. “My husband gave it to me when we got engaged. It belonged to his mother. Our family doesn’t have many traditions, but this necklace will be the start of something special. Just think: someday, you’ll give it to the girl your son will marry, and the circle will be complete.”

  Lisa shook her head at Josh.

  “Mom, that’s a lot of pressure,” he said.

  “Josh, don’t be ridiculous,” said his mother. “I can’t imagine anyone rejecting such a lovely piece of jewelry, but Lisa can speak for herself if she doesn’t want it.” She turned to Lisa. “Go on, darling, tell me. I won’t be offended.”

  “It’s not that I don’t appreciate what you’re trying to do,” said Lisa. “It’s just that—”

  “See?” said Josh’s mother. “Everything is fine. Lisa, lean forward.”

  She opened the clasp and fastened the necklace around Lisa’s neck. Lisa lifted her hair out of the way, and the jewel glittered against her chest, bringing out the blue in her eyes.

  “Perfect,” said Josh’s mother. Her eyes filled with tears. “It’s just like I imagined. Lisa, I’m so glad my son has you. You have no idea how much of a relief it is to me. It’s a dream come true.”

  The visit had tired her out. She told them she needed to rest. Josh tucked a blanket around her shoulders, and she closed her eyes. He and Lisa went outside and sat down in the little courtyard between the buildings. Josh had to admit the necklace suited Lisa, but he realized he was going to have to start standing up for her instead of placating his mother if their relationship was going to continue.

  “Josh, I can’t keep this,” said Lisa, touching the necklace. “It was sweet of your mother to give it to me, but I almost feel like she’s trying to buy me—like if she gives me enough stuff, I’ll be obligated to behave in a certain way. I’ll wear it to prom to make her happy, but then I’ll give it back.”

  “Lisa, you don’t have to worry about making her happy,” said Josh. “We don’t even have to go to prom if you don’t want to. It’s hard for me to say no to her, but you deserve a boyfriend who’s willing to support you no matter what, and that’s what I’m going to do from now on. I’ll just tell her to forget about the whole thing.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” said Lisa. “I think it would actually be nice to spend the evening together at a fancy place.”

  “As long as it’s what you really want to do,” said Josh.

  “It is,” said Lisa. “We’ll have a wonderful time together.”

  She rested her head against his shoulder, and he put his arms around her. They sat there without saying much until it was time for Lisa to go home, and then Josh took her back to her house. He kissed her and said goodbye. She went inside, and for the first time, Josh started to realize he loved her.

  Chapter 17

  The next few weeks were spent in a flurry of preparation. Lisa went shopping with her mother and found a dress that was more gorgeous than anything she had worn before. The bodice was made of fuchsia satin with beading on the front that glittered whenever she moved, and the skirt was made of purple tulle, hanging down in elegant folds around her ankles. When prom day arrived, she spent all afternoon getting ready, and as she clasped the necklace around her neck, she felt truly exquisite.

  Lisa’s mother took her to the apartment that afternoon to collect Josh and Shannon. Josh met them in the parking lot. He was wearing a suit, and his tie was the same color as the pendant on Lisa’s necklace. She had never seen him dressed up so much before. Even at Molly’s wedding, he had only made a minimal effort to be presentable. She could hardly believe the transformation that had come over him. Josh seemed similarly impressed with her.

  “You’re so beautiful, Lisa,” he said, embracing her after she got out of the car. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day, but now that you’re here, I can’t even describe how I feel about you.”

  “Well, you’ll just have to show me,” said Lisa. “Not here, though, because my mother is watching.”

  Josh laughed.

  “Who would have thought we’d end up like this?” he said.

  “I certainly didn’t,” said Lisa. “I’m so excited. Just being with you is the greatest gift I could ever ask for.” She reached up and straightened his tie. “You look amazing. I feel like I’ve walked into a fairytale.”

  Josh suddenly looked mortified.

  “I forgot the flowers,” he said. “They’re still in the refrigerator.”

  “Josh, don’t worry about it,” said Lisa. “My mother won’t mind waiting for a few minutes.”

  They went into the apartment. Josh’s father was in the kitchen making dinner. When he saw them, the worry on his face disappeared for a moment, and he smiled. Lisa felt self-conscious about the necklace, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  “Are you kids heading out?” he said.

  “Almost,” said Josh. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a box containing two tiny flower arrangements made from white roses and golden ribbon. He put one of them around Lisa’s wrist, and she pinned the other to his jacket. Then, they went into the living room and sat down to wait for Shannon.

  “Do you think we should say hello to your mother before we go?” said Lisa. “It would make her happy to see us dressed up like this.”

  Josh hesitated.

  “We don’t have to,” said Lisa.

  “No, we should,” he said. “It’s just that her hair fell out over the past few days, and ever since it happened, she hasn’t wanted to leave her room. She’s been lethargic all afternoon. My dad keeps on checking her temperature, but she doesn’t have a fever. It’s hard to know if anything is physically wrong with her or if she’s depressed.”

  “Maybe she’s just worn out,” said Lisa.

  “I hope that’s all it is,” he said. “I’m sure she’ll cheer up when she sees you. Let me ask my dad if it’s okay, and then we’ll go in.”

  He returned soon, carrying a cup of tea.

  “My dad made this for her to help with the nausea,” he said. “She might not be able to drink it, though. Her mouth is so inflamed that she can barely even swallow. She hasn’t eaten anything all day.”

  They went down the hall. The bedroom door was open. Josh’s mother was sitting on the edge of the bed. She was wearing a robe, but it had slipped off her shoulders, and Lisa saw her bones jutting out under her skin. Her face looked older, now that it wasn’t framed by the gentle waves of her hair.

  “Mom, can we come in?” said Josh.

  She looked up, and her eyes brightened.

  “Josh,” she said in a barely audible voice.

  “Dad made you some tea,” he said. “Do you want it?”

  She shook her hea
d, and as she gazed at them, the contentment in her eyes was more expressive than words. Lisa glanced at Josh and realized he was trying not to cry. She knew he didn’t want to fall apart in front of his mother, so she got him out of the room as quickly as possible without being impolite. They sat down on the couch, and Josh made a valiant attempt to pull himself together while Lisa did her best to comfort him.

  “I just feel so sad when I think about what’s happening to her,” he said, blinking the tears out of his eyes. “I’m sorry, Lisa.”

  “Josh, you don’t have to apologize,” said Lisa.

  “Yes, I do,” he said. “It’s shameful. You shouldn’t have to deal with your boyfriend having an emotional breakdown.” He took a deep breath and managed to smile. “It’ll pass. Don’t pay any attention to me. The only thing worse than blubbering about something is making a scene about it. Let’s just pretend it never happened. Where is Shannon? I don’t want to keep your mom waiting.”

  Shannon hurried around the corner.

  “Speak of the devil,” she said.

  Lisa thought the statement was eerily accurate. Shannon was wearing a black satin gown that sparkled when she moved. Her blond hair was pulled back so severely that it distorted the shape of her face, and combined with the effects of her dark eyeshadow, she looked truly diabolical. She gave Lisa a withering glance.

  “I like your dress,” she said. “I went to the beach last summer—”

  “Shannon, shut up,” said Josh.

  “I’m just trying to make conversation,” said Shannon.

  “No, I’m pretty sure you’re looking for an opportunity to say something rude,” said Josh.

  “You couldn’t be more wrong,” said Shannon. “I thought it would be impolite not to comment, especially since Mom practically broke the bank when she wrote that check. We’ll be lucky if we can pay rent next month. There’s no excuse for spending a fortune on a fancy outfit you’ll only wear once, especially if it’s the color of a sunburn—not to mention that it leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination.”