Page 30 of Mirror Image

Dad lifted an eyebrow. “Honey, sure, we had a few family camping trips, and you did a couple overnight trips in Girl Scouts. But what you’re talking about is on a whole other level. You didn’t even do the summer-camp-in-the-woods thing.”

I put my fork down. “And whose fault is that?” I teased. “You two were the ones who insisted I needed to spend my summers working. ‘You’ll never learn to respect money until you go out and earn your own.’”

Even Sam chuckled at my “serious dad” impression.

“Mary, you make it sound like we sent you to work in the coal mines!” Mom laughed. “You babysat, walked Mrs. Feldman’s dog, and helped out at Julian’s place.”

Julian nodded. “Mary was a godsend the way she tamed my clutter. She organized my office, sorted my patient files, kept me from drowning in paperwork . . . And she spent hours in the garden with Rose.”

“I think she loved teaching me about flowers almost as much as I loved learning about them,” I said softly.

The table quieted for a moment at the mention of her.

Then Julian smiled a little. “She always had some new project going out there. Her whole little gnome-and-fairy kingdom tucked in among the herbs . . . mushrooms, lanterns, tiny benches. She could lose an entire afternoon arranging it.”

I laughed softly. “I loved that garden.”

We were all smiling now, even Sam—until Mom’s voice gentled again.

“Well, despite our stroll down memory lane, this program will be incredibly demanding,” she said, then glanced at Sam. “Sam, you’re still not a hundred percent after your accident.”

Julian blinked. “Accident?”

Mom filled him in on the horrifying details.

He turned to my sister with a gentle, concerned expression.

“My dear, Theresa has a valid point. Do you think it’s wise to take this on right now? Perhaps you two should stay closer to home—at least for the time being. I’d be happy to arrange a referral at Miami Killian Medical Center. Maybe another few months of rehab before something so physically intense . . .”

The color drained from Sam’s cheeks. She shook her head quickly.

“No, thank you . . . I’m fine. Really. I’m good . . .”

For someone so tough, she always seemed startled by sincere concern. I nudged her knee under the table.

“It’s true,” I said firmly. “Sam’s been working extra hard. I’ve even started teaching her to swim in the pool. But thank you, Uncle Jules. You’re super sweet.”

Julian nodded and moved smoothly on to complimenting Mom’s lemony brussels sprouts.

I leaned over so only my sister could hear me.

“It’s going to be so amazing!” I whispered excitedly.

She smiled, the most genuine smile I’d seen all day.

“I know. I’m counting the days.”

As it turned out, those days were already running out.

Chapter Eleven

Jenn

Ten years ago

After that horrific night in the ER, six hours after discharging Cami Miller, I was sitting on the floor outside Dr. Braithwaite’s office, shaking so hard my teeth hurt. I’d walked the hospital for hours, adrenaline tearing through me until my body finally gave out right there in the hallway.

“Jennifer?” he said when he arrived, dropping to a knee beside me. “What’s happened?”