“Cece? Are you awake?”
Cecelia opened her eyes a crack. “I’m thirsty.”
“Sip it slowly, Cece,” Amanda cautioned as she held the water glass with a straw and cautioned. “A little at a time, please.”
Cecelia looked up at Marcus, a wan smile lighting her face.
“Are you glad Eeyore’s here?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Cecelia. Do you remember that I was going to come see you so we could go shopping?”
She nodded, and motioned for him to come closer. Her voice still hoarse, she whispered, “But you can’t tell. We were going to get a surprise birthday present.”
He smiled and whispered back, “That’s right.” He stood up straighter then asked, “So did you go outside to see if I was coming?”
She shook her head. Then her chin started to quiver. She looked over at Amanda. “I wasn’t supposed to go in the street. I’m sorry.” She started to cry.
Amanda leaned over the bed and took her in her arms. “Sweetheart, it’s okay. I know you didn’t mean to do that. It just happened.” She rocked her daughter until the tears and sobbing stopped, replaced by occasional hiccups.
“Cecelia,” Marcus began again. “Janet says you yelled when you were on the porch. Do you remember that?”
She looked at him and her chin started to quiver again. The heart monitor registered faster activity. She nodded.
“Can you tell me why you yelled?”
“Mama told me to.”
“But, honey, I wasn’t there,” Amanda said.
Cecelia started to cry again. “I didn’t want to let him in, but he wouldn’t go away. I’m sorry I went in the street. I had to get away. You told me to yell and run. So I did.” She started to sob again.
Marcus stood and looked at Amanda. “Cecelia. I’m going to ask you a very important question.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore. My tummy hurts.”
“I know, but it’s very important. Will you trust me? I promise to ask you only one question. Then you can snuggle with Eeyore.” Marcus picked up her hand and stroked it.
Cecelia’s hand closed tightly around his two smallest fingers. “Okay.”
“Did Carlton Winslow do something to make you run?”
She closed her eyes tightly, her breath coming fast. “I don’t want to answer anymore. I’m tired. I want more water.” When she opened them again, she refused to look at him.
Amanda helped her sip from the water glass. “It’s okay, darling. You can rest now.”
Marcus pointed to the window and Amanda moved toward it. “Let me try one more time,” he whispered.
He returned to the bedside and sat down on the chair. “Cecelia. Remember when we were talking the other day—about George Washington and the presidents you were studying at school?”
She nodded, stroking Eeyore slowly. “I like President Lincoln the best even if he does have a big nose.”
Marcus smiled. “What did you tell me about President Washington?”
“He chopped down a cherry tree.”
He nodded. “And?”
“He told his papa he could never tell a lie.”
“That’s right, and what did you tell me about your mother?”
“She said it’s always good to tell the truth.” She looked at her mother and her chin quivered. But this time she nearly shouted the words. “I didn’t mean to run in the street. I had to get away. You told me to do that.”
Amanda leaned over the bed and held her. “It’s all right, honey. I know you didn’t mean to go into the street. But why did you? Won’t you please tell us? Were you afraid?”
Cecelia was silent. She nodded and pressed her face against Amanda’s breast. “I didn’t like him making me sit next to him, holding my arms so I couldn’t get away. He smelled bad—he—”
“Who made you afraid, darling?”
“Icky—he’s so icky.”
Marcus edged toward the bed and looked over Amanda’s shoulder. “Cecelia, was it Carlton?”
“I don’t want to talk anymore. I’m tired.” She looked up at Amanda, tears spilling onto her cheeks.
Marcus leaned forward and looked into the child’s big blue eyes. “Thank you, Cecelia. You take a nap and feel better and I’ll come back later—with Sea Star—so we can read together. Okay?”
She nodded and looked at her mother. “Is it okay if Marcus reads to me?”
Amanda smiled through her tears. “Yes, darling. It’s okay.” She sat with Cecelia until her daughter fell asleep.
She remembered all too well why she had told Cecelia to yell and to run. Shocked and sick at heart, she finally stood and edged away from the bed.