Topsy

"The doctor thinks you suffered a psychotic break." Her mother reached out to hold Rhodanthe's hand, but was too slow. Rhodanthe slipped both arms under the thin blanket and balled her hands into fists.

"You've been under tremendous stress," her mother continued, "with the baby's death and the difficulties with the company. Chester's work keeps him away so much, and you keep everything bottled up. You wouldn't under any normal circumstances disappear over a week's time to Paris on a whim, let alone flit off to some God-forsaken cabin in the Smoky Mountains. Who can be sure what's really happened, given the circumstances?"

"I told you. It's Garth's father's cabin."

The room went once again to that icy silence that chilled Rhodanthe's heart.

"He is real," Rhodanthe said. She made sure her voice was calm and even, without the slightest trace of agitation.

"Rhodie....Honey...."

Her heart was not following the lead of her voice however. It took all she had not to pop out of the hospital bed like some well wound-up jack-in-the-box, race down the hallway and hail a cab bound for her office. "Mother, I believe I need rest. Isn't that what the doctor said? I'm sure everything will get sorted out if I can just get some sleep, though this hospital is not the place to do that. This place is a zoo--endless streams of noise and nurses and visitors. When will Chester be back?"

"He's flying in from Paris this evening. He cut his conference short so that there could be someone at the helm here."

"Does he know about all this?"

"Why of course he does, Darling."

"And he's just now coming home to deal with it?"

"What else should he have done? We had the best detectives trying to find you; they are trained in this sort of thing and he is not. He's never been good about waiting while others work. Plus he was a critical component of the convention. He and I were in constant contact. The wonder of cell phones, you know. Now that you're home and safe, nothing is more important to him than to be here at your side, to lift the weight off your shoulders and try to turn your business back from disaster. Don't you worry."

"I told you, I left someone in charge of the business. I need Chester at home so these stupid doctors will let me recuperate there in some piece and quiet."

"Rhodanthe, not another word from you about the business. Heaven knows I have told you and told you it's become way too big for you to handle, but you simply will not listen to anything I have to say. Look at me: No one has been in charge for a week. You vanished into thin air. Why won't you listen? Don't count on going home until we can get the doctor to make you understand there is no Garth, probably no Smoky Mountain cabin, and that you, my dear, are in need of some serious medication and therapy. I refuse to listen to another word on this."

"That would be best." Rhodanthe closed her eyes and listened. First she heard the whisper of her mother's silk dress against the linen liner of her coat. Pause. Then the brief search for car keys. Pause. Rhodanthe held out and refused to open her eyes. Finally there was the welcome clack of her mother's heels on the tile. She slipped into sleep before the tapping faded away completely.