Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

at Brock's desk, trying to remember. Trying to comprehend what was happening.
    Could poison act like this? Take away my strength and mind function so quickly?
    Brock returned, steely determination in his every move. "All right. I'm taking you to Stanford's emergency room. We need to get tests started as soon as possible."
    "But Lauren . . ."
    Brock rubbed his forehead. "I'll call your friend—Katie's mom. What's her name?"
    I had to think. What was my good friend's name? Something with an M. "Maria."
    "Maria. We'll take Lauren over there for the night." He leaned down and laid a hand on my knee. "We'll just let her continue to think Jud's visit was about another matter—nothing to do with your illness. All right?"
    I nodded.
    He straightened and swiveled toward the door.
    "Brock, what if it is Lyme?"
    My husband turned back, a scowl on his face. "Then you're in good shape." His words were curt. "If it's Lyme, antibiotics will soon cure it."
    I so wanted to believe that. But the frightening warnings of the man who'd called me still rang in my head.

Chapter 7
    THE REST OF THE EVENING BLURRED. BROCK HELPED ME INTO HIS CAR, Lauren in tow. Our daughter toted her backpack and a small suitcase. Her cheeks were tearstained. She showed no excitement at staying with her friend on a school night. Instead she'd begged to come with us, stay by my side in the emergency room. I'd argued against Lauren spending the night with Katie. Why couldn't we just pick her up on the way home from the hospital?
    "I can help Mom while she's there, Daddy!" Lauren's mouth trembled as she argued one more time.
    "Honey, no, you can't." Brock put his hands on Lauren's shoulders and drew her close. "You just stay with Katie and don't worry about anything. I'll take care of your mom."
    "You promise?"
    "Promise."
    I heard the exchange from the front passenger seat, my heart swelling. This was awful. It was one thing to make me sick. But to scare my daughter? To harm Lauren in any way? That was unforgivable. Whatever this man had done to me, I would hunt him down when I was well. I would make him pay.
    Brock drove to El Camino and headed south toward Katie's house. I kept my eyes closed, feeling the turns, the stops and starts at intersections. Everything seemed hazy and disconnected. Twice I asked Brock about the roast I'd put in the oven.
    "We took it out, Jannie. Remember?"
    "Oh." Vaguely I did. "Yes."
    At Katie's house, Lauren opened my door to lean in and hug me hard before we drove off. The hug hurt. My muscles were so tender. I tried not to wince.
    "Love you, Mom."
    "Love you too, honey. I'll see you soon."
    Maria crouched down to greet me next, laying a hand on my cheek. "I'll be praying for you."
    I gave her a wan smile. Thanks to Maria, who'd talked to me about her faith, I'd become a Christian two years ago. "I can use that."
    At the exchange I could feel apathy and disdain roll off Brock. He had no need for God and couldn't understand mine. That is, he wouldn't understand. I'd explained it more than once—the cleansing I'd experienced. The new purpose and freedom. God had helped heal the wounds of my past. But Brock wanted no part of it. And he'd talked me out of attending church with Lauren. With his constant work, we had so little time together—and now I wanted to leave him every Sunday morning? Truth was, as much as he'd drawn away from me in the past months, Sunday did seem to be the only day we had together.
    Maria stepped back from the car. She and Lauren waved as Brock and I drove away.
    On our trip back north to the hospital, silence hovered. Brock finally broke it as we pulled into the emergency room entrance. "We're going to have to tell the doctors about what's happened—the phone calls and our police report. They need to understand why they should be looking for poisons and things they wouldn't normally look for."
    "Okay." I licked my lips. "Brock. What do you think is wrong with me?"
    He hesitated. "I don't know."
    We