Caitlin looked up at the knock on her hospital room door. It was nearly three a.m., and she doubted that it was a nurse checking in on her. She gave Jack a nervous glance. He was squeezed onto her hospital bed with her, holding her in an attempt to soothe her worries after the eventful evening.
He rubbed her arm reassuringly. "It's okay, baby, I'm here." To the visitor, he called, "Come in!"
The door swung open slowly. Shanna was standing there, her blue-green eyes looking down at the white, tiled floor. She was wearing red cotton pants with little white hearts scattered over them, a pair of white flipflops, and a white, spaghetti-strap, tight tank top. Her blonde hair was tousled and she wore no makeup; she'd clearly been roused from sleep. Jack actually thought she looked more attractive like this somehow -- more natural.
Shanna shuffled in, her eyes still on the floor. Caitlin held her breath, uncertain whether Shanna was angry, upset, or sad. Jack sat up and moved to the end of the bed, watching the two women uncertainly. He didn't want to interfere.
Shanna finally broke the silence with a whisper. "Cait, I am so, so sorry." She raised her head and Jack could see tears streaking down her flushed cheeks.
Caitlin opened her arms and Shanna rushed to her, throwing her arms around her stepsister and crying onto her shoulder. "Please, forgive me, Cait! I am so sorry I wasn't there for you! I should have stopped him," she moaned with misery.
Jack looked away, suddenly embarrassed to be witnessing this very personal moment between the sisters. He quietly got up and left the room, closing it gently behind him. He knew Caitlin would be grateful to him for allowing them some privacy.
*****
When Shanna had finally calmed enough to speak again, Caitlin gently pulled away.
"Shanna, please don't feel guilty," she said, her voice low. "You weren't even living at home at the time; there is no way you could have known what he did. I should have told you, or at least someone. I was just so scared and I didn't know what to do or who to trust." She shook her head bitterly. "I was just a kid, and you weren't much older, either. Neither of us should be feeling guilty for what he did."
Shanna nodded, sniffling slightly as she wiped her eyes with one small, delicate hand. "I know...I can hardly believe that he would ever hurt you like that. I just had no idea..." Her voice trailed off.
Caitlin's question was cautious. "How did you find out?"
Shanna sighed, raising her eyes to the ceiling in an attempt to hold back more tears. "Billy called me, I guess from the emergency room somehow." She shook her head thoughtfully. "He sounded so bizarre, so unlike himself. He said he deserves to pay for what he's done."
This was difficult for Caitlin to hear. "At least he acknowledges that, I suppose."
Shanna looked at her uncertainly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Caitlin's smile was sad, her eyes deep green with the pain of forgotten years, pain that shouldn't be relived. "I don't think so. I don't think it would help. One day I'll tell you the story, if you want to hear it. But right now, I just want to put it behind me."
Shanna nodded. "Of course, don't worry about it." She hesitated. "What are you going to do about Anne and Dad?"
Caitlin looked at Shanna with a serious expression. "Honestly? I want to leave in the morning before they get up."
In a thoughtful voice, Shanna responded, "Alright. I can distract them...unless you want to fly back home. I could go with you."
"Why don't you go back to the hotel and get some sleep?" Caitlin suggested. "Get up early, before they do. Leave them a note, and meet Jack and me at the airport, around seven-thirty. I think I can check out by seven. Anne and Stanley can get their own flight back home -- I don't want to deal with seeing them."
Shanna agreed. "Alright, I'll go get Jack." She leaned forward and gave her sister another hug, and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you in a few hours, hon. Try to get some rest."
Caitlin hugged her sister back, grateful for her understanding and support. "I will. I love you."
With a smile, Shanna answered, "I love you, too, Cait."
A final wave and Shanna left the room. Jack returned, turning off the lamp and curling up with Caitlin on the hospital bed.
In a quiet voice, Caitlin said, "We're flying back to California in the morning."
A silence followed her announcement. In the dark hospital room, Jack worried about his future with Caitlin. His voice hesitant, he asked, "Would you like me to come with you, Caitlin?"
He was relieved to hear her laugh. "Of course, silly! I meant 'we,' as in you, me, and Shanna!" She hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek with tenderness. A hesitation and then, her tone nervous, she added, "I thought maybe we could get my things from San Francisco and ship them to your place in Long Beach...? Just until I find my own apartment, that is. After all, I'll be starting school in L.A. in a couple months."
He was thoughtful. "I don't know what's going to happen with the RV, but I can have my things shipped back to California. The insurance company should take care of the rest."
Her heart beating quickly, she asked, "Is that a yes?"
