Libby reached for her glass of water and took a long sip. “What about your progress report? They do give you one of those, right? To help you keep track of how you’re doing.”
Annie stabbed her cucumber and brought it up to her lips. “It’s okay.”
For the rest of dinner, she answered in monosyllabic words, if at all. By the time the meal was over, Annie pushed her chair back with a screech. Wordlessly, she carried the dishes and casseroles to the counter. She paused to roll up the sleeves of her hoodie and stepped in front of the sink.
Libby jumped out of her chair. “Why don’t you go and start on your homework? I’ll do the dishes tonight.”
Annie’s eyebrows drew together, and she held Libby’s gaze for a long time.
When she did glance away, Libby’s stomach dipped as she brushed past her. A heartbeat later, Libby heard her door slam shut. She listened for the sound of her voice while she washed the dishes and set them out to dry. Then, she put the food away in containers and shoved them into the fridge.
Libby sat down on the couch to watch TV, but she couldn’t understand a thing they said. When hours passed, and nothing happened, Libby got up and tiptoed down the hall. She held her breath as she pushed the door to Annie’s room open. Her heart was hammering unsteadily as she glanced around the semi-dark room and spotted a figure hunched under the covers.
Annie’s quiet breathing filled the air.
Libby’s free hand was trembling as she pulled the door shut. She took a step back and ran a hand over her face. “You’re beingridiculous. Give Annie her space, or she’s never going to trust you.”
Libby wandered through the house aimlessly for a while longer.
In her room, she changed into a nightgown and climbed into bed. With a frown, she picked up the book on her nightstand and flipped to the bookmarked page. She read the same paragraph a few times before throwing her hands up in the air. With a huff, she sank against the mattress and pulled the covers up to her chest.
All of her dreams were of Annie wandering through a forest, calling out to her. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried or how detailed Annie’s descriptions were of her surroundings, Libby just couldn’t reach her.
In the morning, Libby opened her eyes when the first patch of light lit up the horizon. She sat up in bed, shoved her hair out of her eyes, and grimaced. In her bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face and avoided looking in the mirror. After a quick shower, Libby selected her usual knee-length skirt and blouse. She gathered her hair on top of her head, slipped her feet into a pair of sensible flats, and walked out of the room.
Annie was already in the kitchen, eating her cereal in a bowl over the sink.
“I can make you something,” Libby offered after a brief pause. “Since you’re up early.”
Annie twisted to face her, the circles under her eyes even more pronounced. “I’m fine.”
“Why don’t I walk you to school? I’m not the one who has to open up the clinic today.”
Annie shoved the last of the cereal into her mouth. Wordlessly, she washed her bowl and spoon and set them out to dry. Then, she disappeared into her room and came back outwith her book bag. Libby filled up her travel mug with coffee and then snatched her purse off the counter.
Outside, birds chirped in the distance, and a warm breeze drifted past.
On their way to school, they ducked down Gifford Street and turned left onto Kathy Lee Bates Road, then right onto Hamlin Avenue. Once they spilled back out onto Dilmingham Avenue, Libby spotted Shivericks Pond in the distance, the water glistening beneath the morning sun.
Annie hadn’t said a word the entire walk, and Libby didn’t want to push her.
But her mind was still racing and doing somersaults until they arrived at school, a two-story, red brick building with an immaculate lawn out front; a circular-shaped chimney jutted out the center of the building, and white panes covered all of the windows. Ms. Ricker stood out front with her phone pressed to her ear.
She waved at Annie, who raced past them and ducked into the school.
Charlotte hung up the phone and smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Libby. How are you?”
“I’m very worried about Annie,” Libby admitted, pausing to shift from one foot to the other. “She’s coming home at odd hours. She barely eats. I don’t know if she sleeps, and she won’t talk to me.”
Charlotte frowned as she glanced over her shoulder and then back at her. “Being withdrawn and reserved is normal for her age. You just have to keep an eye out and intervene if it becomes obvious that something is wrong.”
“How is she doing in school? Do you have any idea? I’m sorry… I know this isn’t your job…”
Charlotte’s hand drifted to her stomach, and she glanced back over her shoulders. “Don’t apologize. It’s okay. As far as Iknow, she’s doing fine, but I can ask her summer school teacher to get in touch with you if you want.”
Libby breathed a sigh of relief. “Please, I’d really appreciate that.”
The two of them were still getting to know each other, but Libby was already immensely grateful for Charlotte, who was something of a godsend during these trying times.
