Never Tell Them Page 5

  Sonia squeezed her hands nervously. ”He’s with me. I picked him up from school when Ray didn’t show up.”

  Officer Reed pulled out a pad. ”What’s your name, ma’am?”

  “Sonia Masterton.”

  “Phone number and address?”

  Sonia reeled off her details, still trying to process the situation.

  “If you like, I can talk to his son for you,” Officer Reed offered.

  Sonia swallowed the hard knot in her throat. ”He’s only four-years-old.”

  The officer’s expression softened. ”Are you able to care for him for now? Otherwise, I can radio for someone from child welfare to pick him up.”

  Sonia flinched. He meant no harm, but he made it sound like he was talking about a stray dog. Evelyn and Jessica would be outraged if she didn’t agree to take Henry in. But this was a huge responsibility. Henry was so young, and vulnerable. She chewed on her lip, plagued by guilt at how she’d spent the afternoon fuming at Ray. She’d been quick to rush to judgment, believing the worst of him. All this time, he’d been lying in a hospital bed, injured, possibly needing surgery for all she knew. How could she refuse to help him? She gestured to her house. “If you want to come in for a few minutes, we can discuss it.”

  Evelyn looked up in alarm when Sonia walked into the family room followed by a police officer.

  “Ray’s been in an accident,” Sonia blurted out as they sat down. ”Officer Reed came to notify Ray’s next-of-kin. I explained to him that it’s only Henry.”

  Evelyn’s eyes darted frantically between Sonia and the officer. “Is he … dead?”

  “No, he survived the accident,” Officer Reed volunteered. “The only information I have from the paramedics is that he sustained a head injury. His truck was totaled. Based on the tire marks, it’s possible he swerved to avoid another vehicle. We found his phone in the wreckage, but it’s shattered.”

  Evelyn’s hands fluttered to her throat. ”That’s awful! What hospital is he in?”

  Officer Reed pulled out his notebook and consulted it. “He was taken to Fannin Regional.”

  “Henry can stay here with us, of course, until his father is released,” Evelyn said, shooting a fierce look Sonia’s way.

  ”Absolutely,” Sonia agreed. “Is Ray able to have visitors?”

  “You’ll have to check with the hospital.” Officer Reed produced a card from his pocket and handed it to her. ”Feel free to call me if you have any questions I can help with.”

  Sonia slipped the card into her pocket and escorted the officer to the door, a knot of worry twisting in her stomach. On the spur of the moment, she’d volunteered to take Henry in without knowing the full extent of Ray’s injuries. What if he ended up in rehab for weeks on end?As much as she felt sorry for Henry, she couldn’t afford to invest that amount of time in a small child. She had a business to run. It would be next to impossible to get any work done at home with all the interruptions that would ensue. And her mother couldn’t be expected to care for a four-year-old, not while she was still recovering from hip surgery. The principal of Small Steps had made it clear that the boy couldn’t return to school without the proper documentation, which meant Sonia would be stuck trying to figure out childcare.

  Her best option was to go straight to the hospital and get a full report on Ray’s condition. Perhaps she’d be allowed to see him for a few minutes. If he was able to talk, she could ask him where the paperwork was for Henry’s preschool. Celia always kept a spare key for the house buried in the planter by the back door. With Ray’s permission, she could go inside and look for Henry’s records—this was her opportunity to find out what was going on, once and for all.

  She pulled on her coat and slung her purse over her shoulder before sticking her head into the family room. ”I’m going to the hospital, Mom. Please don’t mention the accident to the kids. Just tell them Ray said Henry could spend the night. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out anything.”

  Her thoughts were scattered as she sped toward Fannin Regional Hospital, incurring the indignant blare of a horn from a driver she cut off. Speeding was not a smart move, especially given her current state of mind, but she was desperate for details about Ray’s accident. A head injury was a vague diagnosis. Did that mean he had a concussion, or was he brain dead? The skin on the back of her neck prickled as her thoughts continued to spiral downward. What if Ray succumbed to his injuries? Images of raising Henry until he was eighteen flashed to mind. She couldn’t take that on—not even for Celia’s sake.

  Then again, it might be the best thing that could happen to Henry. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was in danger from the stranger next door.

  7

  After checking in at the registration desk in the hospital lobby, Sonia took the elevator up to the third floor where Ray’s room was located. She hesitated in the hallway outside his door for a moment or two, watching as a young nurse fussed around his bedside. To Sonia’s surprise, Ray’s eyes were open, and he appeared to be conversing in low tones with the nurse. Feeling somewhat less anxious about the gravity of the situation, she knocked gently on the door and entered. “Hey Ray, how are you doing?”

  His head jerked in her direction, his eyes sweeping her face like a searchlight. He studied her with a blank expression for an uncomfortable moment before turning to the nurse, his brows hunched together.

  The nurse glided discreetly over to where Sonia stood. “I’m afraid he doesn’t recognize you,” she said in a hushed tone. “He sustained some head trauma in the accident—a nasty concussion. The doctor should be around shortly. He can give you more details about his condition. Are you his wife?”

  Sonia shook her head. ”No. I’m Sonia Masterton, his next-door neighbor. I’m looking after his son.” She shot a furtive glance at Ray and then whispered, ”His wife passed away recently.”

  The nurse pouted her lips. ”That’s so sad to hear. He’s not had it easy, has he? It’s fortunate he has you to help him out. Make sure you address him by name when you’re talking to him, it helps anchor him.” She walked back over to the bed and tucked in the sheets. “Anything else I can get you, Ray? Would you like some more water?”

  He turned his head, wincing as he eyed the half-full disposable plastic cup and straw on his bedside table. ”I’m good for now, thanks.”

  “You have a visitor, Ray. Your neighbor is here to see you,” the nurse said in an encouraging tone. “I’ll be back to check on you later.” She flashed a grin at Sonia as she breezed out of the room.

  Gulping a breath, Sonia approached the bed with a trepidatious air. ”Hi there, Ray. I’m Sonia Masterton, your next-door neighbor. I live in the bungalow that backs up to your mother’s old house.”

  Ray lifted a hand to his cheek and scratched it, a flicker of a frown traversing his forehead.

  “Your mother’s name was Celia Jenkins,” Sonia went on, sitting down in the chair next to the bed. ”She passed away recently. You moved into her house a couple of weeks ago.”

  Ray twisted the sheet between his fingers in an agitated fashion. ”I’m … sorry. I don’t remember any of this—or you.”

  “It’s okay,” Sonia said, trying to mask her dismay. “I know this must be difficult for you—the shock of it and all. Henry’s fine, so you don’t need to worry about him.”

  Ray threw her a baffled look, as he attempted to adjust his pillows. “Who’s Henry?”

  Sonia trapped the startled gasp that almost fell from her lips. It was clear from Ray’s tone that he had absolutely no recollection of his son. How was that possible? She couldn’t imagine forgetting who Jessica was. It was a truly terrifying prospect to think a concussion could make you forget you were a parent.

  Despite her misgivings about Ray, she leaned forward and laid a reassuring hand on his arm. ”Henry’s your four-year-old son. Don’t you remember? He came over to play with my daughter, Jessica. She gave him her teddy bear, Fudge, to take home.”

  A haunted loo
k crossed Ray’s features. ”Are you … sure I have a son?”

  “Positive!” Sonia pulled out her phone and scrolled through to a picture she’d taken of Henry playing with Jessica’s blocks. “Look, here he is!”

  Ray gave a dubious shake of his head. ”I don’t remember him at all.”

  “I can bring him along to visit you tomorrow, if you like,” Sonia suggested.

  “If you think it won’t scare him.” Ray gestured to his IV. “Seeing me … like this.”

  “I think he’ll be fine. That reminds me, I need to pop over to your house to pick up some clothes for Henry. Your mom kept a key in the planter out back. Would you mind if I grabbed his PJ’s and some of his favorite toys?”

  Ray sighed and leaned his head back against the pillow, staring morosely up at the ceiling. ”Of course. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. I can’t remember what the house looks like, let alone what planter you’re talking about.”

  “Is it just short-term memory loss you’re experiencing?” Sonia asked. “Do you remember anything further back—what about your brother, Tom?”

  Ray’s brows shot up in surprise. “I have a brother?”

  “Yes. You haven’t been in contact with him in years. But you mentioned that your mother’s been sending him money. Maybe you can track him down through his bank account.“

  “Maybe,” Ray said, the frustration in his voice matching the defeat in his eyes.

  Sonia shifted position, the vinyl chair squeaking in the awkward silence that fell between them. ”Do you recall the accident at all?” she ventured.

  Ray shook his head. ”I had no idea where I was when I woke up. I don’t remember how I got here either.” His frown grew deeper. “To tell you the truth, I didn’t even know my name until they showed me my driver’s license.”

  “I’m sure it’s only a temporary memory loss,” Sonia soothed. ”The nurse said the doctor will be making his rounds shortly. He’ll be able to tell you more.”

  As if on cue, a knock on the door interrupted them and a tall, gray-haired man with a shiny bald spot stepped into the room, one hand tucked into the pocket of his white coat. He nodded to Sonia as he approached the bed. “Good afternoon, Ray. I’m Doctor Robinson. You might not remember me. I treated you when you were brought in. How are you feeling?”

  Ray frowned. “Bruised, and confused,” he answered after a long pause. ”My head hurts, and I can’t remember anything before waking up in here.”

  “I know it’s distressing, but your symptoms are not uncommon after a concussion,” Doctor Robinson explained. “Your CT scan looks good. You can expect the memory loss to resolve itself within the next few days. We’ll need to run some more tests tomorrow, but if everything checks out, I see no reason why we can’t discharge you.”

  “What if he doesn’t have his memory back by then?” Sonia cut in.

  The doctor smiled at her. ”That’s where you come in. Ray will need someone to keep a close eye on him for the next few days.”

  “Oh, I’m not his wife, she’s—” Sonia caught herself, her cheeks flushing. Now was not the time to break the news to Ray that his wife was dead too. ”I’m his next-door neighbor.” She pressed her lips together, suppressing the panic welling up inside. Why was all of this falling on her shoulders? She couldn’t possibly care for a virtual stranger with severe memory loss, not to mention his traumatized four-year-old son, especially with the gnawing suspicions she had that something was amiss. Not that that was of any relevance to the doctor—it was the police she should be talking to.

  Doctor Robinson rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ”Does Ray have any family nearby?”

  “Only his four-year-old son. I’m looking after him, for now.”

  The doctor drew his wiry, gray brows together. ”It will be important for Ray to be with his son over the next few days. It will help speed his recovery.”

  “How long before my memory returns?” Ray interjected.

  “It’s impossible to predict,” Doctor Robinson replied. “It might be a day or two. Or it could take a couple of weeks.”

  Sonia locked eyes with Ray. She couldn’t say for sure what she saw in them. Bewilderment? A plea for help? Or was he fooling them? He seemed genuinely flummoxed at the situation he found himself in, but could it all be an act? Beads of sweat formed along her hairline. She couldn’t invite a stranger into her home. He might be a serial killer for all she knew. At the very least, he was a negligent son and an emotionally distant father—and he was hiding something, that much she was sure of. A dull throbbing began in her temples.

  “You don’t have to decide how to handle this just now,” Doctor Robinson said, breaking into her thoughts. “If you’re not in a position to help out, we can find an alternative solution.”

  Sonia gave a dismissive nod. “Thanks, we’ll talk it over.”

  The doctor took out his penlight and checked Ray’s eyes, and a few other vitals, before taking his leave. “Like I said, we’ll run some more tests in the morning. I’ll be back to check on you again once I have the results.”

  Alone in the room with Ray, Sonia felt obligated to explain herself. ”I didn’t mean I wouldn’t help you. It’s just that … I have my mother living with me and she’s recovering from hip surgery, and I run my interior design business from home and Jessica has after school activities and—”

  ”I wouldn’t dream of imposing on you. I’m sure I’ll be perfectly capable of looking after myself by tomorrow,” Ray responded, his eyelids fluttering closed.

  Sonia got to her feet. “I should let you get some rest.”

  “Henry,” Ray muttered, so softly Sonia almost missed it. ”How old did you say he was?”

  “He’s four,” she replied, a smile breaking out across her face. “Just the cutest little thing with dimples and dark curls.” She waited for Ray to respond, but he said nothing. Was he already asleep, or did he want to hear more about his son? What would she tell him? It would be disingenuous to say that Henry was going to be excited to see him again when she knew he wouldn’t. Instead, she turned and tiptoed toward the door.

  “Thank you … for taking care of my son,” Ray called after her.

  She threw him a parting smile and hurried out of the room.

  Safely back in her car in the hospital parking lot, Sonia rested her head on the steering wheel and released a tired breath. Of all the scenarios she’d imagined regarding her mysterious neighbor, this was not one of them. Up until the accident, he’d kept her at a distance, dodging questions, acting secretive, and dropping strange comments about Henry. Now, apparently, he had no recollection of any of that. In fact, he’d quite happily given her permission to enter his home and retrieve whatever she needed for Henry. Her heart begin to beat a little faster. This was her chance to find out more about the real Ray Jenkins.

  It wasn’t that she wanted to snoop around, but she needed to reassure herself that he was who he said he was, and that everything was above board with Henry—especially in light of the worrisome anomalies she’d picked up on. She owed it to her mother and daughter to make sure they were safe with Ray living next door. Her mind made up, she put the car in gear and pulled out of the hospital parking lot. If nothing else, finding Henry’s birth certificate—or even adoption papers—would put her mind at rest.

  Twenty minutes later, Sonia pulled into Ray’s driveway and switched off her car. She had debated talking her plan over with her mother but decided against it. She’d wait and see what she found out first. If it could be avoided, she’d rather not admit to snooping around in Ray’s house. Evelyn would never approve of her going through Celia’s things.

  After climbing out of the car, Sonia threw a hasty glance over her shoulder. Despite having Ray’s permission to pick up a few necessities, she felt somewhat guilt-ridden at the liberties she was about to take. She walked around to the back of the house and picked up a broken piece of terracotta to dig through the dirt in the planter with. Halfway down, she found the Ziploc ba
g with the spare house key. Good old Celia, dependable as the day was long. Unexpected tears stung her eyes. It was so unfair that Celia had been denied the chance to meet her grandchild. It wasn’t that Sonia didn’t believe Ray had been telling the truth about his abusive childhood, but she couldn’t help feeling there was more to the story.

  She pushed the key into the lock and jiggled it until it turned. Inhaling a shallow breath, she stepped inside the house and cast a glance around, not knowing exactly what she expected to find. Apart from the moving boxes, there was nothing to indicate that Ray and Henry were living here. As she’d observed through the windows, the place looked just like Celia had left it. The same faded landscape prints hung askew on the walls, the same rose-colored glass dish sat on the console table in the hallway, the same frayed runner covered the worn, walnut floor. Steeling herself to see this through, she padded down the hallway and tentatively pushed open the door to the guest bedroom. She would gather up what she needed for Henry first, and then take a gander around the rest of the house.

  Frowning, she took in the quilted mauve Jacquard duvet and antique dresser topped by a pair of dusty, glass candlesticks—trying to make sense of it. Granted, Ray had only been living here a relatively short time, but why had he not made any attempt to transform the space into a child’s room? Opening the closet door, she peered in at Celia’s collection of winter coats, wrinkling her nose at the pungent odor of mothballs. Evidently, Ray hadn’t been able to bring himself to go through his mother’s belongings. One-by-one, she pulled open the dresser drawers, but there was no sign of Henry’s clothes anywhere.

  Eying the cardboard boxes at the bottom of the bed, she made her way over to them. Maybe Ray hadn’t unpacked his son’s things. The first box she opened was chockfull of books—none of them children’s books. She carefully closed the flaps back up and checked the remaining boxes, which contained mostly files and office equipment. Lifting out one of the folders, she flicked through it, glancing at the magazine articles inside. This must be some of Ray’s work. It seemed odd that he hadn’t set up his office yet.