Page 107 of Bad Situation

Taking a breath as I hit the gas and take a chance, hopping into the HOV lane by myself to bypass Friday afternoon traffic. I answer my phone. “This is Jen.”

“Jen. It’s Robert.”

“What’s up?” I ask, innocently, not at all like I’m chasing after his out-of-control wife who’s doing everything she can to avoid him and me.

“I went to your office but you were gone. I was going to see if I could sit in on your meeting. Never too early for me to learn the EPA standards side of the business.”

I frown because he’s never been interested in our environmental efforts. “Sorry, another time. I had to reschedule. I forgot I had an appointment across town. I won’t be back today.”

“Oh.” He pauses and I hear some shuffling of papers. “I’d love to get some of your time next week—get in on that meeting if I can. I know this is a passion for you and, with your dad probably stepping down in the near future, I’d like to learn as much as I can about it.”

My exit is two miles up and I veer off the HOV lane. I need to get him off the phone quicker than a breakup text. “Sounds good. Get with Callie. She’ll add you to the meeting.”

“I appreciate it,” he responds and drags this shit on way longer than necessary. “I’ll read up on the standards this weekend.”

“Perfect.” I need to get him off the phone and lie, “Speaking of Callie, she’s calling. Have a good weekend and give that nephew of mine kisses for me.”

He’s back to disinterested, just like always. “Will do.”

I disconnect and switch lanes to exit. I’ve only been by her studio once. Eli brought me by after work Wednesday and Ellie showed me around. Her babysitter was not wrong. Ellie is over the moon excited about the studio. It’s almost like she has a new lease on life—a fresh start, which is what she’s needed for a long time. But today I stomped all over that new lease and am afraid she’s right back to where she was years ago and I can’t blame her.

When I turn the corner, and the old building that my sister now owns comes into sight, her Lexus Hybrid RX is sitting all alone right by the front door.

Thank God.

I pull up next to her car and park, not bothering to take anything with me. I yank one of the front doors and it’s locked before trying the other. It swings open and I run in.

“Ellie!” I yell, my voice rings through the drab and dark space.

She doesn’t answer and I yell again. There’s a light on at the end of the hall. The click, click, click of my heels bounce off the walls as I move through the space.

“Dammit. I know you’re mad at me. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Trig, but this silent treatment is ridiculous.”

When I get to the double doors that will be Studio A, I gasp. “Ellie!”

I run to her. She’s on the other side of the room, lying mostly on her stomach. Her hair is fanned across her face and her eyes barely flutter open at my voice.

Fuck, I left my phone in the car.

“What happened?” I brush the hair from her face and run my hand down her back to see where she’s hurt. “Shit, talk to me. Did you fall? Hit your head? Say something, please!”

Her hand barely lifts and it looks like it takes all her strength to reach for me.

“Jen,” she puffs and under those heavy lids, her eyes are wild.

“Let me go get my phone. I’ll call for help,” I shift to get up but she tries to grab at me one more time. Her effort is pathetic and weak compared to her normal strength and agility.

She mumbles but I can’t make out her words … until her distraught eyes widen. But they aren’t focused on me. She’s looking over my shoulder.

I turn.

I don’t have time to react.

The last thing I remember is the stinging pain in my neck that reminds me of when I was little and I thought it would be fun to hit a wild beehive with a baseball bat because my best friend and I were stupid and bored. It wasn’t fun at all and we were both stung a dozen times.

That was nothing compared to this. When I fall next to my sister, I don’t even feel the pain of my head hitting the cold, hard floor of soon-to-be Studio A.

Chapter 30

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