out there meant seeing the remnants of what ever happened again. I didn’t want to.
But because it was expected, I went back out. I’d barely sat down when the door opened and Officers Thomas and Neuman entered. And then, right behind them, a bedraggled Alice followed. Everything shifted back into focus as soon as I saw her.
Bolting off the couch, I ran to her and hugged her tight. “Where were you? Are you okay?” I demanded. “I’ve been frantic, Alice. Tell me you’re not hurt.”
She hugged me quickly and then pulled herself free. Her eyes were rimmed in red, and her pale face was blotchy from crying. “I’m fine. Why did you call the police?” she whispered.
“I was so scared when I got here and found your apartment like this. You left the door open and all this broken stuff. Where were you? What happened?”
“I’ve already explained to the officers,” she said, her voice stiff. “You shouldn’t have called them. This is private. I called you.”
“But you weren’t here. What was I supposed to think?”
Alice opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, all hell broke loose. My parents entered the apartment with a bang. The tension emanating from my sister amplified instantly. They made record time; they must have left the second they hung up the phone. My mother took one look at Alice and started to cry, so that made three of us. The expression on my father’s face went from fear to concern. Next, Scot ran in, and, right after him, Joe. The only person missing was Grandma, and I suspected that was only because she hadn’t been at home when we’d phoned.
With a shaking hand, Alice tucked her hair behind one ear in a nervous gesture. Her eyes questioned me as my mother exclaimed over the shattered glass and my father spoke to the police. Nate came up behind me and put his hand on the small of my back, as if letting me know he was there, supporting me.
It helped. A lot.
“I’m not sorry for getting the police involved. I didn’t know where you were. I didn’t know what happened. You were supposed to be here. You called me and wanted me to come to you. What was I supposed to think?” My voice quavered with emotion.
Averting her gaze, Alice said, “As you can see, there’s nothing wrong with me. I’m sorry I worried everyone, but now I’d just like to be alone.”
“Not until you explain what happened,” my mother said.
“Did someone hurt you?” Scot asked.
“Where were you?” my father interjected.
“What’s the deal?” Joe asked.
“Your sister was just worried,” Nate added.
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t feel bad for calling 911, but I felt lousy as I observed my sister trying to take everything in. What ever happened had shaken her up, and then coming home to an apartment filled with people while she dealt with it couldn’t have been easy.
Alice burst into another round of tears and raced out of the room. Her bedroom door slammed shut, followed by the unmistakable sound of a lock turning. She wasn’t normally one for melodramatics. I was scared all over again.
“Can you explain what’s going on?” my father asked Officer Thomas.
The officer shook his head. “She hasn’t been hurt, and she’s not filing a complaint, but what happened should come from her.”
Officer Neuman added, “I gave Alice my card. She knows how to reach us if she changes her mind.”
They said their good-byes and left.
My family reverted back to their normal positions. My mother got a broom and started cleaning up the mess. My father and brothers went into the living room to hash things out. I had a feeling none of them would go anywhere until Alice rematerialized with an explanation.
I wanted one, too, but I needed a break.
“I’ll be right back.” I went outside. I needed fresh air. I needed to come down from the tension in the apartment. And I needed to dispel the horrific images that had started forming in my mind before Alice finally came home.
I sat down on the step outside of the building and wished I hadn’t quit smoking three years previously. I really wanted a smoke. Biting my lip, I leaned against the railing and rubbed my arms against the chilly air. I’d left my coat on the couch upstairs.
Nate came through the door and knelt next to me. “How are you doing?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“She’s home and she’s safe.”
“Thank God,” I said. “She’s mad at me.”
“She’ll