Finding Sky

I toyed with the spaghetti. ‘Do you think I should go back to school?’

Simon topped up Sal y’s wine then poured himself a glass. ‘Not just yet, love. Actual y, I’ve … er … been wondering.’

‘Hmm?’ Sal y looked up, hearing the cautious note in his voice.

‘I heard from this lady from Las Vegas today—Mrs Toscana. She runs one of those casino hotels. Turns out she was behind the secret donation that paid for the convalescent home.’

‘Oh, how kind of her.’

‘That’s what I told her. Anyway, she heard about the kidnapping and has seen our portfolio on the web; she wondered if we might consider a new contract advising on the art acquisitions made by the hotel chain. They’ve got hotels al over—Rome, Milan, Madrid, Tokyo, London, as wel as throughout the States. It would last longer than a year and al ow Sky to finish her schooling in one place. She mentioned there were some excel ent high schools in Vegas. She even recommended a few.’

Sal y swirled her wine in the glass. ‘I don’t know, Simon. If we move anywhere, I’d prefer to go back to England. I don’t think our American adventure has been a great success. And Vegas—wel , the memories aren’t pleasant.’

Simon twisted the spaghetti expertly around his fork. ‘I didn’t commit us. She suggested that we talked more about it, explored the possibilities before rejecting the idea. She invited us down for a weekend—Sky too.’ He took a bite. ‘I must say the salary

she

mentioned

far

exceeded

my

expectations.’

‘Sky? What do you think?’ Sal y asked.

‘Huh? Oh, I wasn’t real y listening.’

‘Do you need a change from Wrickenridge?’

‘I don’t think I want to move again just now.’

‘Can you face school here knowing that everyone is aware what happened to you? We wouldn’t blame you if you wanted a fresh start somewhere else.’

‘Can you let me think about this?’

Simon nodded. ‘Of course. We can go take a look without making any commitments. It’l help you decide. After al , you didn’t real y get to see Vegas, just the hospital and that … that warehouse. You might enjoy the city.’

‘Maybe.’ I shelved that for the moment, my mind too caught up with getting used to being home again to think about moving.

Karla and Saul Benedict came to cal on Saturday morning. I’d never felt at ease with Zed’s mother since our first meeting, but she was on her best behaviour today, giving no sign that she was reading me. Ironical y, I wouldn’t have minded someone tel ing me what was going on in my head as I hadn’t a clue. I remembered the conversation I’d had with Saul about my relationship with their son; would they stil be so keen on having me in their family now they knew I’d cracked up in Vegas?

Sal y and Simon sat with me as we entertained the Benedicts in the kitchen. There was none of the zany fun I’d had in the Benedict home when I’d gone there.

They exchanged a few stilted pleasantries, talking about the concerts pla

Rehearsals would be going on at school without me.

Final y, Saul turned to me, coming to the point of the visit.

‘Sky, it’s good to see you back in Wrickenridge.’

‘Thanks, Mr Benedict.’

‘Zed’s told us what you said to him about having false memories.’

I looked down at my hands.

‘We think we can help you.’

Simon cleared his throat. ‘Now, Mr Benedict, I appreciate you coming here, but we’ve got Sky an excel ent doctor. She’s seeing to her treatment. I don’t think we should mess around with it.’

‘That would be al very wel in the normal course of things,’ said Karla, her tone betraying an edge of impatience, ‘but we believe Sky’s problem might lie out of the realms of normal medicine.’

The look Sal y and Simon exchanged was clear.

They were hostile to any suggestions out of their control; the Benedicts were not the only family who knew how to circle the wagons.

‘That may be so, but she’s our daughter and we wil decide with her what’s best.’ Simon stood, signal ing that as far as he was concerned this friendly visit was at an end.

Saul kept his eyes on me. ‘We would like you to spend some time with our family, Sky. When we get together, there are things we can do to help someone in your situation.’

The prospect terrified me—but I also knew I wasn’t getting anywhere under the doctor’s methods for al Sal y’s and Simon’s optimism.

‘It is time spent with your family that got Sky into the fix she’s in now!’ Simon no longer bothered to hide his anger. ‘Look, Mr Benedict—’

‘Please, cal me Saul. We’ve been through too much together to stil be so formal.’

Simon sighed, wind taken out of his sails. ‘Saul, we like Zed—he’s a fine boy—but Sky’s not likely to be around much longer to spend this time you’re talking about. Please, just leave us alone now. Sky’s had enough to put up with in her short life; don’t add to the stress she’s already under by making claims on her.’

Sal y knitted her fingers together, clenching them tightly. ‘We’ve always known, since she was a little girl, that Sky’s mental condition is delicate. It’s not your fault, but it’s turned out that the association with your family with its exceptional problems has upset that balance. Please, leave her alone now.’

The argument was carrying on over my head. It was almost as if I wasn’t there.

‘Sal y, please.’

‘It’s al right, Sky. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.’

‘Your daughter needs us,’ said Mrs Benedict.

‘I’m sorry, but I don’t agree.’ Sal y joined Simon by the door, body language crystal clear. ‘We know what’s best for Sky. She’s been ours six years now and I think we know her rather better than you do.’

‘Stop it, al of you, please.’ I felt like a bone being quarrel ed over by a pack of dogs. Everyone was so busy tel ing me they knew best, I couldn’t decide what that might be for myself.

Saul rose from the table. ‘Karla, we’re distressing Sky. We’d better go.’ He darted a glance at me. ‘The offer stands, Sky. Just think about it. For Zed’s sake, as wel as yours.’

The Benedicts left with a slamming of car doors and strained goodbyes at the front gate. I remained behind in the living room, ru

‘Wel , real y,’ said Sal y, coming back into the house in a huff. ‘Is there nobody in Wrickenridge who doesn’t think they know better than us?’

‘Sorry you had to sit through that, love.’ Simon ruffled my hair. ‘I think they mean wel .’

‘Right now Las Vegas is looking very tempting,’

added Sal y.

Simon’s eyes glinted, like a driver seeing a gap in the rush hour traffic, knowing he could make a break for it. ‘Then I’l give Mrs Toscana a ring, see what we can fix up.’

I didn’t want this attitude of ful steam ahead to a new life; I wanted time to adjust to the one I’d been making for myself here. I wanted time to find out what there was between Zed and me. And for al this I needed my head back in the right place.

I closed the piano lid. ‘Can we not just think for a minute about what Mr and Mrs Benedict said?

Maybe they can help.’

‘Sorry, Sky, but once bitten, twice shy.’ Simon flipped through the business cards until he found the one for the hotel in Vegas. ‘Getting tangled up in that family’s business has been a disaster. We don’t mind you seeing Zed here, but you’re not to go over to his house. You’re making progress, we don’t want any setbacks. I’l just make this cal .’

I had little energy for a fight at the moment so I made no promises, just got up, saying I was off to bed. I could hear Simon talking animatedly to his new contact, mentioning what weekends we had free and how much we were looking forward to visiting. I had no desire to go back to Vegas; why would I?