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Previously in "Distracting," Judy picked up Grace, Jessie and Zoë, who were stranded in the parking lot of Jessie's psychologist. Later at Booklovers Judy was high in demand as Karen, Sam, and Katie all stopped by to chat.
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Part 8 "Don't Worry"Booklovers Counter, where Judy is answering the phone
"Judy? It's Rick." Rick was tired, and he was afraid his voice betrayed it. He and Lily had spent all evening at the hospital, test after test. And, frankly, no one had been able to tell them anything.
"Oh, good! I've been trying to get a hold of you and Lily all night, what with the mini-van breaking down on Grace."
"It did?" Rick answered, a bit distracted. "Did she get it going?"
"Actually, no. It's at Jessie's psychologist's office. I picked them up. Grace didn't mention it?" Judy asked, a bit surprised this was the first Rick was hearing about the van mishap.
"Well, I haven't seen her—I haven't been home yet. That's why I was calling. Lily had a little situation at work earlier and we're at the hospital."
Judy didn't want to jump to conclusions, think worst-case scenario just yet. "What happened? Is everything Ok?"
Rick ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. In truth, he was rather tense and somewhat frustrated that the specialist still hadn't managed to come back by and go over Lily's test results. But, Rick didn't want to upset Judy with news, which could conceivably be nothing, so he tried to stay casual. He tried not to sound as worried and tired as he felt. "Well, that's what we're trying to figure out. She threw up a little blood earlier. They've been running some tests—and they want to do a CAT scan and MRI in the morning. It doesn't look like we'll know anything too soon."
"In the morning?"
"Yeah, they're keeping her overnight."
"Wow." Despite Rick's relative calmness, Judy couldn't help but think that if they were keeping Lily overnight and running more tests in the morning, that everything couldn't exactly be hunky-dory. "Can I come see her?"
"Well, that's why I was calling. I'm going to head over to the house in a little bit. Talk to the girls. I figured I'd bring them over to see Lil. You know, so they don't worry." Rick knew that no matter what they'd worry, but he hoped seeing Lily would make it all a little less scary. Plus, he knew that she was anxious to see them as well.
"Of course."
"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind coming up to the hospital after you close. Pick up the girls, maybe stay with them tonight? I'd like to stay here, keep Lil company." With Jake out of town still on his honeymoon, the girls would need someone to stay with them, and Rick was glad Judy was home to take the job.
"Sure. Whatever I can do." She imagined that trying to sleep in an empty house would be difficult for Grace and Zoë with the added worry about their mom. And, she assumed that she wouldn't be getting much sleep herself. It might be nice to have some company tonight. "I'll be over around eight?"
"Thanks, Judy. That'd be great. I better get back to her, though. We're waiting for the specialist."
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Booklovers Entrance, where Katie and Karen are waiting for Judy
"Katie, it's good to see you," Karen said, smiling. "What brings you to these woods?"
"Oh, you know," Katie said, suddenly feeling a bit awkward.
Katie's arrival at Booklovers was hardly what one could consider an innocent 'social call.' She planned on doing some recon to determine how much Judy knew about her and Jessie. And, if the knowledge turned out to be as extensive as she figured, Katie intended to ask Judy to keep it quiet until Jessie was ready for the secret to be, for lack of a better word, out.
But, Katie certainly hadn't expected to run into Karen tonight, and therefore hadn't had anticipated needing a cover story for her trip. "I ran into Judy the other day at Lily and Rick's. I kind of have a favor to ask her."
"Hmmm," Karen said, looking back in Judy's direction and seeing that she was still on the phone. "It looks like she's a bit busy… Is the favor anything I could help you with?"
"Oh, well, it's not really all that important," Katie said, downplaying the favor in the hopes that Karen wouldn't pursue the topic. She definitely didn't want Karen to become suspicious of what favor Judy could offer her, so Katie decided on a quick change of subject to cover her tracks. "What about you? Out and about and all."
"Oh, a bit. Getting some payback for all the chauffeuring I did for Eli when he was young," Karen joked.
"Making him run you all over town? Very Driving Miss Daisy of you... I like it."
Karen laughed. Katie really was a good kid—funny, helpful around the house (and didn't cook half bad either). Karen generally enjoyed having Katie around. "I don't think Eli finds it as amusing as you or I do."
"Cramping his style?" Katie asked, settling into her cheerful/charming side again. She liked Karen. In fact, if she had it to do over, she'd probably have confided in Karen, rather than Lily.
"Mom is no longer his favorite female to be driving around."
"Well, maybe not, but he's still living at home, so you can't be too far down the list."
Karen smiled. "You know, it's easy to see why Jessie's been in such a better mood lately, hanging around you and that quick sense of humor." Since the accident Karen had been worried about Jessie. She'd been so depressed, but since Katie came along Jessie had been doing much better. She'd actually been happy, smiling, upbeat. Karen truly couldn't have been more grateful that Jessie had found a friend like Katie.
Katie blushed. "She's not half bad herself."
Karen nodded. "She's a good kid. She is."
The mood remained slightly serious for a moment before Katie restored the mood to that of their previous banter. "If it weren't for the kleptomania… she'd be perfect."
Karen laughed, this time a little more cautiously. (She was a mother after all.) "I'm going to assume that was a joke."
"Probably better that way," Katie countered, smiling broadly. Karen had actually managed to put Katie at ease. Earlier, she'd been so concerned about what Lily and Judy must be thinking about her, that she had fallen into a generally bad mood. But, knowing that Karen thought she was a good part of Jessie's life really helped Katie's perspective.
Judy returned to the front of the store, obviously not in the same chipper mood which Karen and Katie shared.
"Katie, I'm going to have to take a rain check on that conversation," Judy said softly, attempting (and failing) to put a smile on her face.
"Is something wrong?" Karen asked after noticing Judy's stiff posture.
Judy sort of frowned before answering. "That was Rick on the phone. Lily's having some tests run at the hospital."
"What happened?" Karen asked, confused and surprised by the news. She hadn't known Lily was sick.
"He didn't really have many details. As soon as I close up I'm going to meet him and the girls at the hospital and then stay with them tonight."
"I'm sorry, Judy."
"Thanks. I think I'm going to close up soon. Get over there."
Katie couldn't help but feel concerned for Lily; Judy seemed awfully shaken up about the situation. "Do you need any help—picking up or anything?" she asked, wanting to help out.
Karen smiled warmly at Katie. It isn't many high schoolers who would offer to help out her friend's step mom's sister, essentially work for free. And, Karen could tell Katie had meant every word when she offered. The girl hadn't hesitated, hadn't flinched one bit. Yes, Karen was quite convinced that Katie was one of the sweetest teenagers she'd ever met.
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Next time in "Distracting," Rick tells Grace and Zoë about Lily, while the specialist arrives to update Lily on her condition.
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