The Wayward Gifted - Broken Point (37 page)

“I know.”

“We’ll see you again soon.”

“I have to go. My family’s waiting for
me.” Trista turned to Sam before leaving, “Will you please see my doll safely
home, and return her to Dr. Klesel?”

Sam nodded.

Trista hugged Sam and said good-bye. “I
love you, Sam.”

* * *

“I’m
still confused.” Sam looked at Steuart. “How did you get away from Prim Tate?”

“I walked out.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No,” Steuart shrugged. “She was busy.
I watched for my opportunity and I walked out. Then I went back to Trista’s. We
came here together so that she could help me transport. You arrived as we were
about to walk down to the tree house.”

Ed looked at Toriah, “I’ve taught them
well.”

“I have a feeling these kids have
always done well on their own.”

Sam looked at Ed, “I still don’t
understand how everything worked out with Trista.”

“What are the main things I’ve taught
you?” Ed looked at Sam and Steuart.

“Know your audience,” Sam said.

“Timing is everything,” Steuart said.

Dotsie smiled and interrupted, “And,
it’s not an exact science.”

“Correct. And in this instance the
timing was perfect. If it hadn’t been, Trista wouldn’t have traveled. If you
hadn’t taken her to the shop, she wouldn’t have been repaired. You’re timing
was right.”

“I wish she could travel with us.”

“A small price to pay when you consider
what could have happened. She’s home and she has an opportunity to continue her
life.”

Toriah cleared his throat, “She’s
fortunate.”

“I know,” Sam said. “I’m still angry
with my mother. Trista said it was an accident, but I believe she was trying to
smooth things over and help me feel better about what happened. I don’t
understand Olivia. She’s so busy living by her book that she misses the most
important things.”

“Books are not bad things,” Toriah
said.

“I know, but she reads things the way
she wants them to be and then justifies her point by picking one or two
phrases. Even though she didn’t know what she was doing, she was still hurting
someone.”

Ed shook his head, “Sam, you can’t change
people.”

“I’ve got an idea,” Sam said. “Let’s
find Mother’s doll and mail it to the pirates. I think it would serve her
right.”

Steuart smiled, “Turtle soup?”

“Exactly—I don’t want to go home.
I don’t want to explain this to Mother.”

Ed nodded, “Some things can’t be
avoided.”

* * *

Toriah
and Dotsie disappeared into the kitchen for several minutes and returned with
freshly brewed tea. Dotsie poured. Toriah proposed a toast, “To a job well
done.”

“Here, here! Well done,” Ed said.
“Steuart, here’s to you. It’s good to have you back.”

Sam hugged her brother, “Cheers to you,
Steuart. You came close to having a new family.”

“Don’t say that.”

“You’re the one who always said you
wanted another mother.”

“Don’t tease me, Sam.”

Sam walked to the desk and picked up
Steuart’s note, “You might want to put this back in your valise.”

“I do,” Steuart nodded and studied the
note. “I wish I understood this.”

“Laurel Ivy Hood?”

“Yeah. Why was she arguing with mother?
What did she want returned? Who is she?”

“Hey,” Ed addressed the group, “I hate
to break up the party, but people are looking for us. Stew Boy, it’s time we
all go home.”

Toriah and Dotsie exchanged glances.
Toriah cleared his throat and then spoke, “Miss Caples has something she’d like
to say.”

“I’m not going back.”

“What?” Sam shouted as Ed raised an
eyebrow at Toriah.

“I’m staying here.”

“You can’t do that,” Sam insisted.

“Yes, I can.”

“No, you can’t. You have to go home.”

Toriah spoke to Dotsie, “I think you
need to explain.”

Dotsie looked at Sam, Steuart and Ed.
“I’ve not been honest with you.”

“What do you mean?” Sam asked.

“If I had told you the truth, you
wouldn’t have let me come.”

“Miss Caples is correct.”

Sam looked at Toriah.

“This was her decision, Sam. She’s been
planning this for a long while.”

“I don’t understand. What do you mean,
planning
? Dotsie didn’t even know how to
travel before today. This is crazy. Dotsie, you can’t stay here. You have to
come home with us.”

Ed and Steuart stood quietly. Toriah
shrugged his shoulders.

“What did you lie about?”

“I’m not in remission.”

Sam put her hand up to her mouth.

“It’s okay because I’m not sick here.”

“What?”

“A long time ago, when I was in the
hospital ... before you visited me ... I heard the doctors and my mother
talking about my illness. It wasn’t good. I’m well here.”

Toriah nodded, “That’s correct. Miss
Caples is much better here. Traveling was a risk, but it’s a risk she was
willing to take. Please know that this took great courage. I’m extremely proud
of her.”

“How can you be sick there and well
here?” Sam asked. “You’re not making sense.”

Dotsie looked at Toriah, “Will you
explain?”

Steuart interrupted, “I think I
understand. Sam, it’s the same with my arm.”

Toriah spoke again. “Things are similar
but different in each place—rearranged. Miss Caples no longer has the illness
that she had in Maybell. However, that does not mean that she will never have
another illness. It only means that whatever she gets may not be as serious.”

Ed looked at Toriah, “You realize this
is completely against the code?”

“I do.”

“There may be consequences.”

“I know.”

“Are you prepared?”

“Always.”

“So, why did you come?” Sam asked
Dotsie.

Dotsie reached for Sam’s hand, “I was
running out of time.”

Sam cried, “You can’t do this.”

“I have a future here. My days in
Maybell were coming to an end.”

“No.” Sam looked at Ed.

“Apparently, there’s no such thing as a
brain tumor in Bellamy.”

Dotsie reached for Sam, “You’re my
friend. I’m always going to be your friend. You and Steuart are travelers. You
can visit with me anytime. You can visit with me when you come to see Trista.”

Ed folded his arms, “What about your
mother?”

“That’s...” Toriah paused and glanced
at Ed, “been taken care of.”

Ed stared at Toriah, “You didn’t?”

Toriah nodded. Ed shook his head.

“Who’s going to take care of you?” Sam
asked.

“TT’s adopting me.”

Ed glanced at Toriah.

“I’m retiring. I’m staying here with
Miss Caples.”

Ed extended his hand, “Toriah, you may
be the biggest bag of wind I’ve ever encountered, but you’re also the best.”

“I could say the same for you,” Toriah
put his arm around Ed and gave him a hug.

Ed stepped back, looked at Dotsie, and
nodded, “You’ll be fine.” He turned towards the children, “We need to get
going.

* * *

What do you say? Are we ready? Let’s get
things right this time. On the count of three we’ll say it together.”

There was a chill in the air. The wind
picked up outside. Together, they stood in the darkness.

COMING SOON

The Wayward Gifted

Grey’s Case