I guess I didn't really realise how tired I was until the next day, when I didn't wake up until the sky outside was starting to turn dark again. I didn't remember sleeping much in England - first of all worrying about Jesse, and then about Lollie and her body in Exeter - and with the jet lag, I was pretty whacked.
I stumbled out into the hallway, sniffing dinner. It smelt like Andy was making fajitas, and so I slipped on my slippers (ha!) and made my way downstairs, avoiding the various socks and even a calculator (three guesses who that belonged to) of my stepbrothers on the way down.
"Susie!" My mom cried, as she spotted me in the doorway. "We weren't expecting you to wake up until later on tonight, if not tomorrow." I shrugged, and took a seat next to Lollie - who, we had told Andy, to spare him the confusion, was my dad's illegitimate daughter from Oregon - and helped myself to salad.
"Well," I replied, chewing thoughtfully. "I know how you have an aneurysm if I miss any of Andy's wonderful cooking." My mother blushed and squeezed Andy's hand affectionately. Lollie shot me a nauseated look. She wasn't yet used to how in love my mom really was.
"No trouble in town when I was gone, Mom?" I asked. This was my own private way of asking if there was any Touver trouble whilst I was out of town. My mom caught the meaningful gleam in my eye and shook her head.
"No, honey," she answered. "Paul came by most days, asking for you. No matter how often I told him you were on a road trip, he just kept coming..." I grinned against my fork. He had kept his promise.
"Slater's a freaking head-case," Dopey grunted, swallowing his bread roll almost whole. "He still hasn't paid for the glass door he broke last year." My mother speared some lettuce with her fork carefully before replying.
"Well, I suppose the boy was unwell," she said. "And he can't be blamed for that. It didn't cost too much to fix it, anyways." Dopey grunted again and we continued our meal in silence. There was no need for chatter.
Suddenly, though, the phone rang, making all of us jump. My mother moved to answer it, but I stopped it. "I'll get it," I announced, and I dropped my fork to move out into the hallway and pick up the receiver. "Hello?" I asked, curiously. Paul's shaken but calm voice flooded my ear.
"Suze, can you come to the hospital?" he asked. My heart flipped worriedly, and it took a few seconds for me to get my voice working again.
"W-why?" I stuttered. "Are you hurt? Is Jack hurt?" Paul dismissed these two guesses immediately, but then he sighed, before answering in a much more different tone. He was the most serious I'd ever heard him.
"It's Drew," he said. "He... he...the Touvers got him." I nearly dropped the phone in shock. I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and turned to see that it was Lollie, listening intently to the conversation. I grabbed her hand desperately, holding it in my own.
"Touvers?" My voice shook violently. Paul confirmed that it was, and that they'd got him whilst he was checking on my mom, instead of looking after his own, newly discharged cousin. My heart swelled with guilt. "Oh my God, Paul, I'm coming. I'll be there in ten."
"What's wrong?" My mom asked, running into the hall. I was already pulling off my slippers and jamming my feet into trainers. "What's happened?"
"It's Drew," Lollie replied. "He's got..." She looked at me. "Blood poisoning?" This lie was for the benefit of my stepfather and brothers who were no doubt listening intently.
"Susie," my mother said, stopping me mid-jam. "You can't go out now. You're still in your pajamas. At least change first." I shook my head, and reached for my coat.
"No," I said firmly. "I have to go. Paul needs me."
As I reached the end of my driveway, however, I was met by Adam in his Voltswagon and Cee-Cee very obviously playing back-seat driver. She rolled down the window and yelled to me. I waved a dismissive hand.
"I can't go the Coffee Clutch right now!" I cried. "I need to go to the hospital - Paul needs me." Cee-Cee sighed, and gestured me to get in.
"I know, doofus," she said. "That's what we're here for. We've come to give you a ride." I raised my eyebrow - Paul had told Cee-Cee and Adam? But I climbed in anyway, and Cee-Cee shoved an eyeshadow pallette and some lipgloss into my lap. "Sort yourself out, Simon," she ordered. "You look like a trainwreck." I scowled, but obeyed her.
"I did only get up twenty minutes ago," I argued. Cee-Cee had pulled a blouse and some jeans from her bag and handed them to me. "What are those for? Cee, I told you, we're going to the hospital." Cee-Cee smiled back innocently.
"Oh, I know," she replied. "But you want to look presentable don't you?" Adam turned right suddenly, and I realised that we were nowhere near the hospital. Cee-Cee looked out of the window too, and called to him. "Hey Adam, when we get there, can you call my Aunt Pru and tell her it's a right after the post office?"
"Aunt Pru?" I echoed. "Why is she coming to the hospital?" I shrugged into the blouse, and Adam was careful to avert his eyes from the mirror. Cee looked sheepish.
"O.K, O.K," she confessed. "We're not going to the hospital." I nearly threw myself out of the car.
"What?" I asked angrily. "Cee-Cee, I need to be there. Paul needs me there!"
"No, he doesn't," she answered. "Look, there he is." I stared out of the car window in astonishment to find that she was telling the truth. And he was wearing a tux! I also realised that we had arrived at the Pebble Beach Golf Club and Resort. What the hell were we doing here?
"Surprise," said Paul with a grin, taking my arm. I yanked it away again, looking at him in surprise.
"What about Drew?" I demanded. Paul smiled, and took hold of me again.
"He's inside," he answered. "Fit as a fiddle. Will you stop asking questions now?" I was too shocked to do anything but be lead away by him. He took me into the restaurant, where at least fifty people spotted me and cried "Surprise!" I felt extremely grateful that Cee-Cee had lent me the blouse.
"You..." I began, but I couldn't finish. Jesse approached me and kissed my cheek gently, squeezing my hand. "This is all for you," he explained. "To celebrate our engagement."
"Our engage..." I couldn't believe it. "Oh, Jesse, it's wonderful!" I threw my arms around his neck and he kissed my shoulder. I spied my mother in the corner, and realised now that Adam had taken the long route to make sure everyone was here before I was. "It's just amazing."
"I've spoken to Paul about our wedding," Jesse whispered in my ear. "And he's agreed to be Best Man." Looking at Paul now, I knew that there could be no-one else for the job. Cee-Cee would be chief bridesmaid, of course, and I'd have my mom as wedding planner, because she'd insist. But I'd survive...
"Of, Jesse," I gushed, my cheeks red with excitement. "This is all so unexpected!" I kissed his hand. "I love you."
"I love you too, querida," he replied, and he met my lips with a kiss.
Under the skin? I didn't really care. I knew that there'd still be ghosties to sort out, souls to put at peace. But for that moment, I was all about making me happy.
And you know what?
I was ecstatic.
THE END
A/N Yeah, I know its a bit abrupt, but I couldn't think of any other way to end it. I hope it's O.K. Review?