Part 21 (1/2)

I stood and tipped my head to see behind the bedroom door.

Erica.

She wore tattered jeans and a pink sweater, her feet bare, her tangled blonde hair covering her eyes.

I crept closer, pushed the door aside, and knelt in front of her. ”Erica? Sweetie?”

She pulled her feet closer to her body.

I reached out and smoothed the hair from her face.

Her eyes were puffy and red with mascara circles the size of mini donuts. She held a hank of hair in her fingers as she sucked on it.

”Oh, Erica.”

She didn't acknowledge me.

I pulled out my cell phone and called Dr. Albert's emergency number. He said to bring her in as soon as possible.

I sat cross-legged in front of her and took her free hand in mine. It was like ice. I rubbed it gently. ”Everything will be fine. Don't worry. We'll take care of you.”

She let out a sigh and murmured something.

”What? I didn't hear you.”

Her gaze met mine. She pulled the hair from her mouth.

”Mom said you would come.”

I rode in the backseat with Erica. Maury drove his Honda Prelude. Dr. Albert met us at the door of the psych center. He touched Erica's shoulder, then mine, joining us in a pseudo triangle. ”I'll take her from here. Everything's going to be fine. She'll call you in a few days.”

Where had I heard that before?

The last five times I'd checked her in.

I kissed Erica and ran my hand down her cheek before the attendants rolled her away. She sucked harder on her hair.

Maury started to chase after her. The guard blocked him. ”I'm sorry, sir. You can't go with her.”

He looked at me, bewildered and forlorn. ”I'm her husband.”

I slid my arm through his and tugged him in the direction of the cafeteria. ”Let's talk about that.”

While Maury purchased coffee for himself and a Snapple iced tea for me, I dialed Cory to let him know everything had gone according to plan. Then I dialed Ray and filled him in. He was more concerned about Maury than Erica.

”How's he behaving?”

”He's lost, Ray. He's the same geek he was in high school, just taller and better looking.”

”Where were they?”

I described the apartment to him. From my brief glimpse, the furniture had been old, the carpets threadbare, and the housekeeping less than desirable, but I wouldn't say dirty, just used. ”He still claims they're married.”

”Ask to see the marriage certificate. We can verify with the officiant and witnesses.”

I rushed Ray off the phone because Maury appeared with our drinks in hand. He set mine in front of me, put his down, and reached for mine again. He took off the shrink wrap and popped the cap before returning it to me.

He smiled as he sat. ”I don't want you to chip a nail.”

I was torn between ”Aw, shucks, how considerate” and ”Do I really look like I'd care?” I settled for a simple ”Thanks.”

He sipped his coffee and glanced around the room, which had only a few other occupants seated on plastic chairs. ”Is this where Erica will eat?”

”She'll eat in her room.”

”Is the food any good?”

”It's pre-chewed. You know, mashed potatoes, Jell-O, pudding. I'm not sure why. The patients have mental problems, not gastrointestinal.”

”She hates it here.”

I took a long swig of my iced tea while I tried to formulate a response he might understand. He hadn't spent the last fifteen years coping with Erica's issues. I had.

”Sometimes she's been known to think of it as a resort and spa. When her life doesn't go the way she wants, she'll do ... something to get herself admitted.”

His eyes told me he was wounded. ”She was happy with me.”

I couldn't argue. I didn't know for sure. ”She has to take her medicine every day, Maury, or she starts to act differently. Sometimes she's wild and takes too many risks, and sometimes she's like this. Without the medication, she's unpredictable.” I decided not to mention ”suicidal.” I still wasn't sure of the reason behind all of her suicide attempts. Some had been pretty lame for a girl of her ingenuity. Of course, Dr. Albert didn't agree with me on this, and he was the expert. I only knew Erica needed professional help.

”Is it because of your mom?” He stared at his coffee cup, twisting it between his hands. ”Because she killed herself? Is that why Erica acts this way?”

Life should be so simple. ”Erica has been diagnosed as bipolar. That's why she takes the medicine. I'm sure our mother's death created issues for her, too. She didn't always get along with our father, and she had difficulties with school. I can't really categorize all her behavior for you. I'm not even sure Dr. Albert can, but maybe you can talk with him later and see what he says. She's ... unpredictable, like I said. But loveable.”

His eyes met mine. ”I love her. I've always loved her, even in high school.”

”I remember all the times you asked her out.”

He blushed and cast his eyes on his coffee cup again. ”Erica didn't want to go out with me then. She said I was too short, but I think it was because I was a geek.” He looked up at me through his eyelashes as if waiting for me to respond.

I didn't know what to say.

He pulled himself taller in the chair and squared his shoulders. ”But I grew. I wear contacts now. I look good.”

I had to smile. ”You do look good, Maury.” His dark hair had a fas.h.i.+onable cut, tight on the sides, spiky on the top. His skin was clear, which it didn't used to be. But then, in high school, whose skin was? No longer hidden by thick gla.s.ses, his brown eyes didn't look as fearful as they used to. Of course, the football team wasn't here. He might still jump in a locker to avoid them if they appeared. ”Do you have a job?”

He slumped again. ”Not at the moment.”

”Are you really married to my sister?”

”Yes! We went to Niagara Falls. It was very romantic. I have pictures.”