Tears rolled down his cheeks as he cradled his sister next to him. “Ah, Amy, why’d you do this? Why?”

He was still crying when the EMS people carried Amy out on a stretcher. He stood by helplessly as he waited for his brother-in-law.

While he waited, he dug into his pocket for his Nokia and called Pete’s cell phone number. He explained the situation in a jittery voice and listened to Pete tell him the reenactment was canceled because it was pouring rain.

Andy looked outside and was stunned to see the heavy rain. Was it raining when I arrived? He couldn’t remember. Where the hell is Arnie? Maybe he went straight to the hospital. Did I tell him to go there or come home? He couldn’t remember that either.

Should he call their parents? Amy would say no. He said yes. His mother picked up after three rings. “Mom, it’s Andy. I’m calling to tell you Amy was just taken to the hospital. She’s been scalded over her entire body in the shower. I think she’s in shock.”

“You have to be pretty stupid to get burned in a shower. Why didn’t she just get out? Let me know how she’s doing.”

“Aren’t you going to the hospital to see her?” Andy asked, his voice so agitated he could barely get the words out of his mouth.

“And what good can I do in the hospital? That’s why hospitals have doctors and nurses. You aren’t going to tell me she has no insurance, are you, because if you are, your father and I are just squeaking by. We can’t help.”

Andy didn’t bother to respond. Instead, he clicked the OFF button and sat down on the top step of the porch. Rain poured over him as he dropped his head into his hands and cried. When he couldn’t cry any more, he pulled out the Nokia again and dialed his wife’s number. “Jill, it’s Andy. I’m at Amy’s house. Can you come and get me? I need you. Please.”

18

Atlas barked just as the buzzer sounded at the electronic gate. Mandy scurried to the monitor to see Larry Denville waiting patiently to be admitted. She pressed the button that would release the gate. Atlas continued to bark but not as loudly as he had at first.

“Lola, the reporter is here, and he has someone with him. They’re on their way up the driveway,” Mandy cried shrilly, so that both Lola and Anthony could hear her.

“Now we’ll get his spin on the way things went in Vermont. By the way, Anthony just looked in on Aggie, and she’s curled up in bed sleeping. I think nine shots of liquor might have something to do with it. I expect she’ll sleep through the night knowing she’s safe and sound,” Lola said, just as Denville rang the bell outside the kitchen door.

“This is my associate, Myrna Davis,” Denville said, and proceeded to make the appropriate introductions. “We have Myrna to thank for Mrs. Jordan finally seeing the light in regard to her husband. We just stopped by to see if she arrived safe and sound. And to tell you I’m not sure I want to continue with this article and all the dredging up of the past that would go with it. My reporter instincts are telling me there are some serious private issues at stake, and I have no desire to turn into a tabloid reporter. So, if it’s all the same to you, Miss Jor Dan, I’m going to put all this on hold until you tell me otherwise.”