Their Real Daughter Paralyzed Me. They Let Me Die.

Chapter 3

Dad stepped in front of me and snapped at the manager, "Who told you to open the banquet room?"

The manager hurried to explain, "Didn't you say last night that we should hold Miss Carter's celebration at 10:30 this morning?"

"You've got the wrong person," Dad cut in, though his voice sounded hollow.

Rita turned to leave.

Mom caught her arm. "It's raining outside. Where would you go?"

"I don't want to upset Miss Mercer."

She wiped away her tears, looking so considerate that anyone might pity her.

"You all stayed with me last night. That was more than enough."

I looked at Neil. "I thought you hadn't seen her."

"Alma, let me explain."

"Answer me first."

After a long silence, he said, "She was in a bad place last night. She threatened to jump off the boardwalk. I couldn't just leave her there."

I stared at him, then laughed in disbelief.

"So Mom drugged me, and all of you went to keep her company?"

Mom said quickly, "I only wanted you to get a good night's sleep."

"Who prescribed the medication?"

"The doctor we brought."

"It isn't on my medication record."

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

I turned to Dad. "Does the doctor you arranged know you gave me an extra drug without telling me?"

He looked away.

Then I faced Kelly. "That route map was a lie too, wasn't it? What you really planned was how to sneak around me to see her."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Alma, we never wanted to hurt you."

"You already have."

The music was still playing. A cheerful birthday song repeated over and over.

Rita stood among them. I felt like a stranger at someone else's party.

Neil wheeled me out of the restaurant.

In the elevator, he crouched to straighten the hem of my skirt.

"I was wrong to hide last night from you."

"What else?"

His thumb stroked the back of my hand.

"Rita is suffering over the crash too. Please don't upset her again."

I pulled my hand away, fighting back tears.

"You feel sorry for her?"

"I just don't want anyone else to die."

"What about my life?"

The elevator doors opened. Rita stood outside, pale as a sheet.

Neil glanced back at her.

I turned my face away and gripped the wheelchair armrest. I didn't ask again.

That afternoon, heavy rain forced the resort to close.

I said I needed to rest, locked my room, and called Officer Nolan, who had handled the crash.

"I'd like to review the outcome of my case from 6 months ago."

There was a pause on the other end.

"Your husband signed a settlement and a waiver of further action on your behalf. You accepted 180,000 dollars in compensation from Ms. Carter and agreed not to pursue the matter."

My fingertips turned cold.

"I never signed anything."

"It was signed electronically. The compensation went into your father's account."

Dad's voice came from outside the door.

"The money doesn't matter. Get Rita to safety first. We can make it up to Alma later."

I tightened my grip on my phone. "Officer Nolan, I never authorized any of this."

"Then come back as soon as you can. We'll investigate it again."

I had barely hung up when Kelly came in carrying my medication.

"Alma, time for your pills."

"What are these?"

"Vitamins."

I pushed the cup toward her. "You take them first."

Her face changed. "I don't need vitamins."

"Neither do I."

The pills scattered across the carpet.

She stared at me, her voice trembling. "Alma, do you know something?"

I looked up at her. "What is it you hope I know?"

Her phone lit up. A message from Rita appeared on the screen:

Rita: If I jump from the boardwalk, will everyone finally be spared this trouble?