One Dance for Case (Possessed 2)

She was amused at the by-play between the pair. There was no doubt that Case was completely serious about what he was saying, and the way Andy watched him, hanging on his every word, she needn’t worry that he would forget those important facts.

“You boys done with life lessons or what?”

She laughed when Casey puffed out his chest, and Andy mimicked him. “These are things he needs to know early.”

“Yeah,” Andy agreed.

Shaking her head, she began to walk towards the ticket booth. They followed behind her still talking about those lessons.

“Wow,” Andy whispered as he saw the small tea cups ride spinning in circles. “I wanna go in doze!”

“You got it, little dude.” he and Case ran over to wait in the small lineup. There was no way she was going on with them. It would become a very messy scene if she did.

The pure joy that lit up Andy’s eyes was enough for her to push everything else aside. His happy screams as Casey spun the tea cups made her heart sing. Knowing that he was enjoying it every bit as much as her nephew was icing on the cake.

She loved that they were bonding. Her only fear was how they would all be affected if her sister woke up? When she completed rehab? If she were being honest with herself, she worried how her relationship with Lacey would turn out once all was said and done. Would she hate Ev the way she seemed to when she left?

She had more questions than answers, and the run-around was making her feel sick again. Not realizing she’d been thinking for so long, Case and Andy coming up to her shocked her. “Whatever it is, Ev, let it go. Enjoy today.”

God, how she loved this man. He always knew just what to do or say. Smiling, she rubbed a finger down his cheek. “Are we in an episode of Frozen now?”

“Who?” he asked genuinely puzzled.

“Ice Queen?” How could he not know?

Shaking his head, he told her, “Not a clue.”

“We’ll watch it one day.”

His laughter followed as Andy led them to the next ride, a mini rollercoaster, that he could go on by himself. He was absolutely thrilled. She enjoyed watching his little body vibrate with excitement as he was strapped in. The joy in his laughter rang loud as the ride started. It was the perfect afternoon.

As soon as they entered the hospital, Case felt a change in the air. He knew something had happened with Lacey given all the activity around her room.

“Let me out of here!” They could hear her screaming.

Andy heard his mom’s voice and shriveled up into Case’s arms further. Almost as if he didn’t want to see her.

“Well,” Ev started, sounding resigned, “I guess she’s awake.”

“You sure you want to do this?” He had to give her an out.

She looked from him to Andy then to the room they were only feet away from. “I have to, but would you keep Andy out here?”

He didn’t want her going in alone but knew the boy needed someone with him. Someone he trusted. So he nodded his head. Her grateful smile held no reflection of joy. She was dreading what was about to happen.

Seeing that there were a doctor and another nurse in the room, he felt marginally better. When a nurse he recognized walked past him he

asked, “When did she wake up?”

They’d been there enough times that she knew who he was. “About three hours ago. We’ve been trying to calm her down since.”

“Shit,” he cursed under his breath so his little ward didn’t hear and give him shit for it again.

“Pretty much sums it up. She has a choice to be here or jail. Either way, she’s not going back on any drugs for a while.” Watching her walk away, he didn’t feel any better about it.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” could be heard as soon as Ev walked in the room. Andy covered his ears, and for the first time in nearly ten years, Casey felt helpless.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” the screech of Lacey’s voice before the door clicked shut behind Evelyn was worse than nails on a chalkboard. The sheer hatred in those few words had her head pounding with dread.