By request, I am continuing this story. Thank you to Joesgirlfriendandpercyssister for the support on this story.
12:36 AM
I sat quietly with Karen for a while, making occasional small talk until Jen came in so we could switch.
"Hey Frank," she greeted me, "Time to switch again. Glad you're up K."
She greeted me so kindly. Didn't she know that I was the reason our siblings were here in the first place? Of course not. I didn't tell her.
"See you later girls," was all I managed to say without breaking my cool facade as I left. Only Joe knows what I've done. He has every right to hate me now. It wouldn't surprise me. I hate myself.
I stepped outside of Karen's room, still dazed. I was pulled aside before I opened Joe's door by our dad.
"How are they holding up?" He asked.
Of course. He was just as worried as I was. But like my sisters, he still didn't know. Didn't know that all this pain was because of me.
"I've been with Karen since about 11:30 or something," I told him, "And she seems fine. And Joe was okay when I saw him last."
"How are you holding up?"
The million dollar question right there. Some would say this isn't something to be proud of, but I can lie about my emotions fairly well to my parents. My siblings, with the occasional exception of Janessa, can see through me like a glass windowpane because we've always been together. I of course use always loosely, because of the exception Janessa of being adopted, but she does pick up on our non-verbal cues well enough to be a long time sibling.
"I'm glad they're okay," I replied.
At least I'm not lying to him. I am happy they're alright. I'm just not telling him everything I'm feeling.
"Me too son," he said, patting me on the back, "Me too."
I smiled at him and went into Joe's room. He lay fast asleep on the bed. At least one of us could sleep well. I crossed to a recliner on the other side of the room and laid back. Eyes wide open, I lay there for quite some time, waiting for sleep to claim me, although I'm doubtful it will. I listen to Joe mumbling in his sleep. I know I shouldn't, but I listen in.
"We'll be fine… no KK… we have the straightaway…"
In my head, the pieces fit together. He's relieving the accident. I get up from my seat, because I knew I probably wouldn't have fallen asleep anyway. I walked to the side of his bed and stroked my little brother's cheek.
"It's okay Joe," I whispered, "You're okay."
Suddenly he grabbed my hand and held it tightly. His eyes gradually opened.
"I remember the impact," he told me, "Karen… I saw her head hit the dash before I went into the windshield and then I remember her screaming. My seat belt didn't hold me back."
I stood silently and took in what he was saying. Why wouldn't it? The thought runs quite clearly through my head.
"What happened to the airbags?" I asked.
"I don't know. That's another funny thing. Not comical, obviously. But strange."
It was true. A seat belt or the airbags not working is a tad out of the ordinary, and of course, unfortunate, but both safety mechanisms having malfunctions at the same time? That was queer.
"Strange indeed…" I muttered, "You should tell the police about it."
"Well no one's come in to get my statement yet."
"They were required to wait 24 hours. They'll be here around 6:30 tomorrow or something."
"That makes sense."
We sat in silence. My gaze shifted to the floor.
"Frank…"
"Yeah?"
"You don't really think that the seat belt and the airbags not working was accidental do you?"
"No, I don't."
"Do you think the drunk just hit us before whoever messed with the car got to?"
"Probably."
"Then you can't blame yourself anymore."
"Go back to sleep," I told him.
"You know I'm right," he teased, but he humored me, "Goodnight Frank."
"It's more like good morning," I mumbled, glancing at the clook that read 1:23 AM.
"Good morning then."
"Go to sleep you dofus."
"Right back at ya older dofus."
I snorted and walked back to recliner. This time sleep came to me blissfully quickly. I dozed off and thought about possible people who would want to hurt our family. I was going to figure this out.